Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for high cholesterol is denied as it does not constitute a disability. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to lack of verification of claimed stressors. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral ankle disorder, arthritis of hands, and hypertension will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional treatment records. The issue of rating his right ankle disability remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and continued the noncompensable rating for his service-connected left ankle disability. The claim for an increased rating for the left ankle disability was granted to 20 percent from February 2008 to March 2014, but denied for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a groin disability and denied service connection for secondary hip, ankle, and tendonitis disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain additional VA examination records and determine if there are any new symptoms or increased severity of his left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The reduction in rating of coronary artery disease was not proper as there was no actual improvement in the disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and Epstein Barr Virus.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for right ear hearing loss, bilateral hand disability, and higher initial ratings for iliotibial band syndrome of the right knee and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of records.

Service connection for arthritis in the hands is not granted as there is no evidence of such condition during service or within one year thereafter.,The claim to reopen the matter of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as new and material evidence has not been received that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (no noise exposure in service).,The claim to reopen the matter of service connection for a back disability is denied as new and material evidence has not been received that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (no current chronic back disability shown).,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the matter of service connection for a left ankle disability. The Veteran now has a diagnosed left ankle osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disability and initial compensable ratings for left ankle injury and left foot degenerative joint disease were denied. The Board found no evidence of current right foot disability or any other compensable disability during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle, and foot conditions, as well as cardiac disorder, acute MI, urinary disorder, and hyperthyroidism, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee and left ankle/foot disabilities do not meet the threshold requirements for a TDIU, as they do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by limitation of motion and pain without ankylosis, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms are already adequately addressed within the current 20% evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip, right ankle, and left wrist disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip, right ankle, and left wrist disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, right ankle, and back disabilities. The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10%.

The Veteran's right ankle posttraumatic arthritis and strain are related to his active service, and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify his National Guard service and obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's right foot and toe numbness is proximately due to or the result of surgical treatment for a service-connected right ankle disability. The Board finds that service connection for right foot and toe numbness, secondary to a service-connected right ankle disability, is granted.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, previously rated as 10 percent for fracture with degenerative arthritis, is now rated at 10 percent effective August 10, 2014.