Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing an opinion regarding the Veteran's employability given his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left leg disability, characterized by malunion of the tibia and fibula with attenuated soft tissue, soreness at fracture sites, and moderate ankle disability, has not met the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including PTSD, chronic fatigue syndrome, and undiagnosed illnesses. The case is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for a Board video-conference hearing at the El Paso VA facility as soon as possible after April 2015. The Veteran requested additional time due to obtaining new evidence and wishes to attend his hearing at the El Paso VA facility.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports the claim. The current right ankle degenerative joint disease is related to an in-service fracture.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was received to reopen the tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, right and left knee disability, left and right ankle disability, right and left wrist disability, and vertigo claims. However, hypertension and sleep apnea were not shown during or within one year after service and there is no competent medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, back disability, stomach disability, left shoulder disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability have been reopened. The evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a disability manifested by chest pain has also been reopened. The evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether this condition is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left ankle fracture are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that the disability warrants an initial rating of 20 percent, based on marked limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to service connection and rating of the Veteran's left elbow and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right ankle disability requires further development due to the need for an additional examination and clarification of whether he has ankylosis. The current evidence does not conclusively establish ankylosis, but suggests that range of motion is so diminished as to amount to the functional equivalent of ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 29, 2006 due to insufficient development and will be referred to the VA Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of Compensation and Pension Services for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his back and left ankle conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that a TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her bilateral ankle disabilities from November 17, 1999, to February 4, 2000, on an extraschedular basis have been denied as the evidence does not show that her disability picture is so exceptional or unusual that it renders impractical the application of the regular schedular standards.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain was granted service connection.,His request for an extension of a temporary total evaluation following surgery for his service-connected right knee disability has been granted.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish whether the appellant was on Federal service (ACDUTRA or INACDURA) on August 10, 1979 when he sustained an ankle injury. The case is being remanded for further examination and medical opinion regarding the relationship between the current left ankle disability and the 1979 injury.

The Veteran's left ankle disorder is related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's right ankle DJD is related to an in-service injury, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus first manifested during active military service and granted service connection for this condition. However, it was determined that his bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's current disabilities, including his head injuries and psychiatric conditions, are not etiologically related to his active duty service.