Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's left ankle disability was evaluated at a 10 percent rating prior to September 24, 2013 and at a 20 percent rating on and after that date. The Board found no evidence of marked limitation of motion or x-ray evidence of involvement of two or more major joints with occasional incapacitating exacerbations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle condition is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition. The back condition, however, was not found to be directly related to service.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder was rated at 30 percent prior to February 23, 2011 and increased to 40 percent effective February 13, 2013. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met before February 23, 2011 but since then, the right ankle disorder warranted a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran does not have a current bilateral ankle sprain disability and the Board finds that any such disability is not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus and traumatic arthritis of the talonavicular joints of the ankles have been granted a maximum schedular rating, with no further increase in disability ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability was denied, and his claim for an increased rating for right ankle neuropathy was also denied. The issue of TDIU is not addressed as a separate issue from the service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and earlier effective date for service connection of residuals of a left ankle sprain was denied. The Board found that the March 2002 denial is final, and no new evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim prior to August 6, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities (arthritis) as secondary to the service-connected residuals of a fracture of the left ankle, right ankle disability (osteoarthrosis), bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus due to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for hypertension and right ankle disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and the submission of updated medical records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal regarding initial compensable disability ratings for ejaculatory anhedonia/secondary anorgasmia and scar, right little finger. The remaining claims are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability. The preponderance of the evidence was against granting any higher rating.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is presumed to have been incurred during active duty service and granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and clarifying whether there is malunion of the os calcis. The Veteran's claim remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed left ankle or left foot disability, and any such disabilities are not related to his service-connected right knee bursitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's right ankle disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development as his left knee and left ankle disabilities have not been evaluated in over four years, and there are indications of worsening symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain (chronic/recurrent) is not related to his active duty service.,Service connection was also denied for a bilateral shoulder disability. The VA examiner concluded that DJD of the right shoulder is less likely than not related to any in-service event or injury, and there is no evidence of left shoulder condition during service.,The Board found that the Veteran's current nerve irritation manifested as left shoulder pain is proximately due to his service-connected cervical spine disability. Therefore, service connection for a pulmonary disability was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim. For his back disability, a remand is required to obtain an opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was granted. The Veteran is now entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.