Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and left foot disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination. The examiner will determine if his service-connected disabilities result in loss of use of one foot or both feet.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at the maximum allowable under the rating schedule, which grants a 40 percent disability rating effective August 22, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further development to determine if he requires aid and attendance or is housebound due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and a TBI examination. His initial rating claim for a right little finger disability and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow condition, left ankle condition, and hypertension were denied. The Board found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for right elbow condition. Service connection was also denied for left ankle condition and hypertension due to lack of current disability.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, and he had a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for at least one year immediately preceding his death. However, the appellant did not meet the requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for cold injuries of the upper and lower extremities with polyneuropathy is dismissed. The Board finds that he has current diagnoses of osteoarthritis of his right ankle and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety disorder, and dysthymic disorder, which are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and effective date was denied. The Board also found that the Veteran wanted to withdraw his appeal for a higher rating for right knee instability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including issuance of Statements of the Case and scheduling a videoconference hearing. The issues include rating an increased disability for bilateral pes planus, service connection for various disabilities, and review of a reduction in rating for plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 28, 2006, for the grant of service connection for a right ankle disorder.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has found that the left foot disorder and psoriasis are related to his service-connected right ankle disability, warranting secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right ankle and low back disabilities, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing her with a VA examination to assess the current nature, extent, and severity of her left hip and bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lumbar strain, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease (DJD), right shoulder disorders including osteoarthritis and impingement, and bilateral ankle arthritis. The diagnoses were not deemed to be related to service.

Service connection granted for right ankle disorder secondary to service-connected lumbar strain with spondylosis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as well as posttraumatic arthritis of left ankle. Effective dates assigned are February 7, 2011, for all conditions.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain clarification on the presence of current ankle disabilities and to provide etiology opinions regarding their relationship to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to address the relationship between his service-connected conditions and asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from the March 2015 examiner regarding whether his service-connected disabilities have aggravated his left shoulder, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities.