Ankle Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee sprain with chondromalacia. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examination report and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of service connection for a skin rash and left ankle disability prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating was granted in October 2007 with a 10% disability rating effective February 26, 2007. She received a temporary 100% disability rating from March 30, 2009 through July 31, 2009 for left ankle surgery. In April 2012, she was granted another temporary 100% disability rating effective April 16, 2012 through August 31, 2012.,From September 1, 2012 to present, the Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20%

The Veteran's claims for bilateral feet, ankle, and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine their etiology. The current rating for hypertension is also on hold.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected lumbar spine and left ankle disabilities. The AOJ will also consider whether a temporary total rating is warranted due to her March 2015 surgery.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left ankle disorders have not been decided.

The Board found no evidence of a pre-existing left ankle disorder and concluded that the current left ankle disorder is not causally related to service. The Veteran's memory loss was attributed to his service-connected PTSD, thus denying separate service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal of the bilateral ankle condition claim was withdrawn prior to a decision. The mental disorder claim is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his spine disability was denied due to failure to report for a scheduled examination.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and it is not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The lumbar spine disability is not more than 20 percent disabling, the left shoulder strain prior to January 19, 2011, does not meet a higher rating, bilateral pes planus claim was withdrawn, right knee and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome do not meet a higher rating, service connection for a left hip disorder is denied, service connection for right and left elbow disorders is denied, and service connection for a right ankle disorder is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to ensure that his claims are properly considered, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting appropriate examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury. The right ankle disability appeal was dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are denied.,The reduction in the evaluation for residuals of an avulsion fracture of the right ankle resulting in bone spurs and hammertoes from a 20 percent rating to a 10 percent rating, effective March 25, 2011, is found to be improper.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability was incurred in service, but denied his claim for a right ankle disability as there is no evidence of arthritis within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to establish a connection between the Veteran's current bilateral ankle disability and his military service or any service-connected conditions. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic right ankle sprain, and entitlement to compensable disability ratings for pseudofolliculitis barbae, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current right ankle disability or any in-service injury that could be linked to the Veteran's current conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's monoarticular inflammation of the right foot was caused by service and grants service connection for this condition. The other conditions were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle and lumbar spine disabilities were denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for the left ankle sprain was upheld, as was the 0 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine prior to September 21, 2011. However, a higher rating of at least 20 percent on and after September 21, 2011, for his lumbar spine disability was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have a right knee disability or tinnitus, and her current diagnosed conditions are not related to her active service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and urinary incontinence, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation from service. The examiner opined that the Veteran's back disability did not cause his hypertension.