Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes, and his pre-existing right foot disorder was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, ankle, and foot injuries are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a medical examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including vision disorder, low back disability, groin disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral leg disability, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral knee disability. The effective date of the grant of service connection for pes planus was set at February 24, 2009.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability of the right ulnar nerve, and denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The issues related to his right foot, knee, and ankle disabilities were also addressed.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA medical records, scheduling a new examination if necessary, and providing the Veteran with an opportunity to respond.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ankle disability did not manifest in active service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service. The Board also determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is not due to and has not been aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he does not have a back, right hip, left knee or left ankle disability that is etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right shoulder, left ankle, right ankle, hypertension, bilateral foot plantar fasciitis with left first metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder all had their respective initial rating evaluations determined to be inadequate.

The Board has determined that a timely substantive appeal was submitted for the issues of right ankle arthritis, left knee degenerative changes, and chip fracture of the right middle finger. The case is now REMANDED to obtain VA examinations and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated at 20 percent since February 6, 2009. The Board finds that the symptoms and functional impairment warrant this rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address whether the Veteran's left knee, left ankle, and right hip disabilities are secondary to his service-connected right knee and right ankle disabilities. The issues of service connection for these conditions remain on appeal.

The Board found that the awards of service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities were clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and properly severed as of March 1, 2012.

The Veteran's healed sprain of the left ankle is rated at a 10% effective July 8, 2009.,Service connection for a surgical scar on the left ankle was granted effective March 11, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of bilateral calcaneal stress fractures have been rated at the maximum disability rating (20%) under Diagnostic Code 5271, which pertains to marked limitation of motion of the ankle. The evidence shows that both ankles exhibit less movement than normal, weakened movement, excess fatigability, incoordination, pain on movement, swelling, disturbance of locomotion, and interference with sitting, standing, and weight-bearing after repetitive use.,The Veteran's service-connected residuals of bilateral calcaneal stress fractures have been rated at the maximum disability rating (20%) under Diagnostic Code 5271, which pertains to marked limitation of motion of the ankle. The evidence shows that both ankles exhibit less movement than normal, weakened movement, excess fatigability, incoordination, pain on movement, swelling, disturbance of locomotion, and interference with sitting, standing, and weight-bearing after repetitive use.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records from November 2014 to present.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability, diagnosed as tarsal tunnel and compression neuropathy, was incurred in service. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether this condition is related to an incident of service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no rating decision or service connection determination could be made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left foot disorder, right ankle disorder, and right wrist disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle and left knee disabilities pre-existed his military service, and thus could not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The evidence also clearly showed that these conditions did not worsen during service beyond their natural progression.