Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection of BPH, right ankle swelling, and left ankle swelling have been denied as there is no current disability found by the VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's leg length discrepancy was not caused or aggravated by VA care, and the claimed disabilities are not service-connected.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of any current right ankle disability.

The Veteran's current left shoulder, left ankle and status post fracture of the rib disabilities are reasonably shown to have resulted from falls due to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the Veteran's current arthritis of the neck, back, shoulders, hands, knees, and ankles as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in or within one year following service.

The Board granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent rating for cholinergic urticaria, effective from the date of the decision. The ratings for right knee musculoligamentous strain, right shoulder strain (major extremity), and right ankle sprain remain unchanged.

The Veteran's appeals are being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical examinations and records.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for various hip, ankle, and knee conditions. The Veteran's previous claims were denied due to lack of a relationship between the conditions and his service or service-connected disabilities.

The appeal is being remanded due to errors in correspondence and the need for further development, including VCAA notice on a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including his foot and ankle conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant as they do not result in a total and permanent disability to preclude locomotion without aids.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development, including consideration of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in a previous denial of service connection and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. His left ankle fracture residuals are currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes. The back and right knee disorders were found to be unrelated to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar disc disease and bilateral radiculopathy, left ankle disability, tinnitus, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as they do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for another VA examination regarding the Veteran's right ankle disorder. The issue is still pending and will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right ankle and left knee disabilities, finding that a rating higher than 10 percent was not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of chronic bronchitis, residuals of a left fifth finger dislocation, or right ring finger disorder. Service connection was also denied for right ankle and foot disorders, as well as right shoulder and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's right elbow disorder is currently rated at 20 percent, and the left knee disorder at 20 percent. The Board finds that these ratings adequately reflect the severity of his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's left ankle disorder is rated at 10 percent.