Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disorders were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service, or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disabilities of the right knee, left ankle, and right ankle are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The low back disability is not shown by the evidence to be etiologically related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal was timely perfected, and the Board has jurisdiction to address all issues related to service connection for various conditions. The right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claimed right knee, left ankle, left foot, and left wrist disabilities were not incurred in service and are not otherwise etiologically related to service. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's post-traumatic arthritis of the right ankle is rated at 40 percent, which is the highest schedular rating available for this condition.

The Veteran's left ankle disability was evaluated at a 30 percent rating from January 30, 2008 to July 14, 2014. The disability did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, PTSD with secondary depressive disorder and chronic sleep impairment, and left ankle disability are all granted. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU starting from March 2013.

The Veteran's ankle disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, but the Board has determined that they meet the criteria for a higher rating of 20 percent in both ankles due to marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's right ankle strain is manifested by complaints of pain and stiffness with overuse, resulting in marked limitation of motion. The Board has assigned a 20% evaluation for this condition under Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lay statements indicating that he was diagnosed with polyarthritis in service are not supported by the medical evidence, and thus does not meet the second element of service connection (in-service event, injury or disease). As such, service connection for the claimed disabilities is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain relevant medical records and provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's Morton's neuroma and right ankle pain are related to his in-service puncture wound.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for elevated liver enzymes, left ankle sprain (claimed as left ankle fracture), bilateral knee pain, and low back pain. However, the RO found no chronic residual disability related to these conditions during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The denial includes the new and material evidence claim for benign prostatic hyperplasia, as well as the secondary service connection claims for left shoulder acromioclavicular arthrosis, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and left arm disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected L5 radiculopathy with left foot drop causes a skin disability causing recurrent sores and infections of the left ankle.,Right knee osteoarthritis is caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's L5 radiculopathy with left foot drop.

The Veteran withdrew her claims of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a miscarriage, migraine headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disability (generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder) prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of any current psychiatric disorder. The issues on appeal include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, right foot condition, left foot condition, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right rotator cuff tendonitis with moderate impingement.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death.