Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the bilateral ankle, as secondary to his already service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis, is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the underlying cause(s) of his claimed condition. The VA will need to provide an adequate examination and obtain additional medical records before a decision can be made.

The Board has reopened the claims for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, cysts, and hearing loss disability due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.,No new evidence was found to reopen the claims for left shoulder disability and anxiety/nervousness.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a right ankle disability will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's left ankle disability and skin condition have been granted increased ratings, with the effective date being from August 24, 2007.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected. The right ankle and knee disabilities are being remanded for further examination, as the current opinions are based on inaccurate factual premises. The low back disability is also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for bilateral ankle and knee disorders, as well as his claim for a bilateral leg disorder secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's right ankle fracture with residuals and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are service-connected as secondary to his service-connected shoulder disorder.,PTSD is granted, but due to a depressive disorder with anxiety features.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left ankle, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss disabilities. The decision found that new evidence was not received to reopen the claim for a left ankle injury, and that pre-existing right and left ear hearing loss did not increase in severity during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new opinion regarding service connection for the right ankle disability. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also part of this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected right elbow bursitis, left ankle fracture, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities do not warrant a higher disability rating. The claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is granted effective from August 1, 2008.

The VA examiner determined that the service-connected left ankle disability did not substantially or materially contribute to the cause of death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral shoulder, knee, hip, left ankle, and lower back disorders due to a lack of new and material evidence showing a link between these conditions and either service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and examinations.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a chronic right ankle disability that manifested during or as a result of active military service. As such, the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability and finds that the Veteran's current right ankle disorder is related to his in-service injury. The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, IBS, GERD, prostatitis, hypertension, degenerative arthritis of right acromioclavicular joints, and triceps muscle injury are addressed on remand.

The Veteran's residuals, right ankle sprain are not manifested by moderate limited motion of the ankle or ankyloses. The Board finds that an initial compensable evaluation is not warranted at any point during the appeal period for the Veteran's residuals, right ankle sprain.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right ankle, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the final denial. The claims are now considered on their merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle arthritis is as likely as not related to his military service, granting him service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, left shoulder, and right ankle disorders are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left ankle disability with degenerative arthritis and sinus tarsi syndrome. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the current left ankle disability, including consideration of the Veteran's statements regarding a twisting injury during service.