Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from his primary care physician and orthopedic specialists. The case will be readjudicated after the requested information is obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his claimed right and/or left ankle disability, plantar fasciitis, and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied as there is no current evidence of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen service connection for a right knee disorder and bilateral ankle disorder, both of which are presumed due to service in the Gulf War Theater. The Veteran's current symptoms qualify as qualifying chronic disabilities.

The Veteran's disability status post left fibula fracture with surgical scar and post-traumatic arthritis of the left ankle and left knee was evaluated as 20 percent disabling through July 15, 2011. The VA examination reports provided sufficient evidence to support this rating.

The Veteran seeks service connection for ankylosis of the right ankle, which she claims was caused by a fall resulting from her service-connected right knee disabilities. The Board finds that the current examination and opinion are inadequate and requires a new VA medical opinion to address whether the ankle disorder is proximately due or aggravated by the knee disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a left ankle disability related to her service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 60%, which does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU. However, due to his employment history and education level, he may be unemployable as a result of his lumbar spine disability on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder is related to his service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed right ankle condition and thus, service connection for this disability is denied.

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 claim for service connection of a right knee disability has been denied as there is no current evidence of such a condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent, the maximum available rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Knee. The claim for service connection for a left ankle condition was granted.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been granted a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, including a fracture and arthritis, was rated at 10% from December 1, 2008 to August 26, 2009. A temporary total rating for convalescence following surgery was granted from August 27, 2009 through October 31, 2009. From November 1, 2009, the Veteran's disability is rated at 20%.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a Social and Industrial Survey to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sebaceous cysts, and bilateral ankle disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for seasonal allergies and assigned a noncompensable rating. The appellant's other claims have been addressed, with some issues resulting in grants of service connection or increased ratings.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen previously denied claims for service connection have been considered. The appeals are currently in the denial stage.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.