Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were denied as his service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of her service treatment records, specifically from the Oakland Naval Regional Medical Center and Tripler Army Hospital. The AOJ will conduct a thorough search for these records and provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed back, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities did not have onset during active service or within one year of service discharge. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability did not have their onset in service or are otherwise related to service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle, back, headaches, and tinnitus disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The right hip disability was also denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or malunion.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left ankle disability from August 1, 2010. The Veteran is also awarded a separate 10 percent rating for ankylosis of the subastragalor or tarsal joint in good weight-bearing position. No effective date was provided as this pertains to a change in rating.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder claim is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The Board will seek an addendum opinion from a qualified examiner to determine if the current right ankle disorder is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by her service-connected left and/or right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left ankle synovitis has not been shown to be productive of a marked disability, and the Board finds that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects his symptoms.

The Board has denied all the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection, finding that May 10, 2010 is the correct date of receipt of his initial claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea. The left shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent, while the right ankle disability was also rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and clarifying certain findings from the October 2015 VA examination report.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, currently rated as 10 percent disabling for moderate limitation of motion, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board finds that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his service-connected left ankle sprain.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder NOS. The remaining claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board found no evidence of a current left ankle disorder related to service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are service-connected. The right and left ankle disabilities have been remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted an extraschedular rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left ankle fracture residuals, in addition to the current schedular 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the issues on appeal are more appropriately characterized as service connection claims. The Veteran's left knee and ankle disorders have been remanded for additional development to obtain relevant medical records, including VA treatment records and physical therapy records.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current right ankle disability and thus service connection for the right ankle cannot be granted. The Veteran's left ankle disability, rated at 10 percent, will remain unchanged as it does not meet criteria for an increased rating.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left ankle strain, left knee strain with degenerative spurring of the patella, and atrophic hole in the left retina. The rating for bilateral tinea pedis was found to be noncompensable as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The rating for hammertoe of the left 5th toe was also found to be noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain missing VA records and for a VA examination. The issues are whether the Veteran has current right ankle, right knee, and right foot disabilities that had onset in-service or are otherwise etiologically related to active military service.