Ankle Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disability was not incurred or aggravated during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right ankle disability, and for obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle and left foot disabilities due to new evidence, including recent VA treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on an in-service injury during combat.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of the right and left ankles or legs, nor can service connection be granted for these conditions based on direct evidence. The Veteran's degenerative joint disease is not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for bilateral ankle arthritis is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as there was no evidence of ankylosis, malunion, or astragalectomy. The right knee and left ankle disabilities are rated based on limitation of motion.

The Board has reopened and granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability.,Service connection is established for a lumbar spine disability due to an in-service injury. The Board finds that the current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is more likely than not directly related to the December 1992 slip and fall during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. These conditions are considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is service connected as secondary to his right knee and right ankle disabilities. The Board has granted this claim.

The Veteran's February 2, 2006, VA Form 9 was timely filed, perfecting an appeal of the May 2004 rating decision that denied increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the left ankle and service connection for obesity, hernia, asthma, bilateral knee condition, endometriosis (also claimed as a disability manifested by a female bleeding disorder and PCOS).

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right ankle disabilities, as well as his lumbar spine disability, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right ankle disabilities have not met the criteria for higher schedular disability ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle sprain, post-operative residuals was granted with an effective date of August 16, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle contracture and Achilles tendinitis with degenerative joint disease warrants a 20 percent rating, as it is productive of marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury and dyspepsia (heartburn) are granted. Service connection is denied for diverticulitis, high cholesterol, and presbyopia and myopia.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering all submitted evidence.

The Veteran's claims for low back, left ankle, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical opinions and records. The issues include rating the right shoulder disorder, evaluating bilateral knee disorders, determining service connection for left hip, right ankle, and neck disorders, and seeking service connection for a sleep disorder.