Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss, which are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals, post-operative left ankle fracture and lumbosacral strain have been rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent for each condition. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate based on the evidence showing marked limitation of motion in the left ankle and painful motion with guarding not resulting in abnormal gait or spinal contour.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability was found to be manifested by no more than moderate limitation of motion prior to October 23, 2010. From that date forward, the disability is manifested by marked limitation of motion warranting a 20% rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and new and material evidence have been denied. The Board found no current disability manifested by degenerative arthritis separate from other disabilities on appeal.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain is rated at 20 percent, and his right Achilles ankle sprain with arthritis is rated at 10 percent. Both conditions are considered to be of direct service origin.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disorder was denied as there is no diagnosed kidney disorder at any time during the period on appeal. The Board finds that additional development is required to determine whether the Veteran has a separately diagnosed cognitive disorder and, if so, whether it is possible to differentiate the Veteran's symptoms of his dysthymic disorder from those of his cognitive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with the exception of the claim for a compensable disability rating prior to March 1, 2011 for left upper extremity scar. The remaining claims are also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a higher initial rating of 70 percent, effective March 5, 2012. Service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, migraines, back injury, and residuals of left ankle/foot injury have also been established.

The Veteran does not have any current diagnosis of a left ankle disability and the VA examiner found no evidence of such. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ankle disability with foot drop was not incurred in or aggravated during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's exposure to solvents during his period of honorable service from February 1977 to August 1979 contributed to the development of his current cirrhosis, and the Board finds service connection for cirrhosis is warranted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's shin splints, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, muscle strain, and residuals of a right calf muscle injury are not related to his active service. The Board also finds that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for the other claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to address his service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and TDIU were granted, with the PTSD claim being based on direct service connection due to combat exposure. The TDIU claim was also granted as the Veteran met the schedular criteria for TDIU and his service-connected disabilities likely precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

Your claim for service connection for a left ankle disability has been granted, but the Board's decision was not appealed. As such, your case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical opinions and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after this is done.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg, low back, and right foot, ankle, or knee disabilities as well as chronic prostatitis due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection was not granted for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left lower extremity disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, clarifying whether he has filed for SSA benefits related to this condition, and scheduling a new VA examination.