Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's cause of death was due to pancreatic and colon cancer, which were not service-connected. The appellant did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is characterized by pain and limitation of motion that more nearly approximates marked limitation of motion, warranting a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's right and left tibial stress reactions have been rated at 20 percent since December 7, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ankle disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of low back, right ankle, left hip degenerative joint disease, and right hip degenerative joint disease. The new evidence shows that these conditions are likely due to his service-connected hammertoe condition with hallux valgus.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to military noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. The issue of secondary service connection for osteoarthritis of the neck, back, fingers, knees, and ankles due to rheumatoid arthritis remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability is related to his service, while his back disability is not. The claim for a back disability is denied.

The Veteran meets the threshold requirements for TDIU due to a single service-connected disability rated at 40 percent or more and a combined rating of 70 percent or higher. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities, including depression, left knee disability, low back disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, and left ankle and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, prevented him from engaging in heavy physical or strenuous manual labor but did not prevent him from performing sedentary work.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing assistance in reopening a previously denied claim of service connection for a left ankle disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for posttraumatic lumbar spine residual degenerative joint disease, chronic sacroiliac and coccyx sprain, chronic posttraumatic residual left shoulder sprain and degenerative joint disease, posttraumatic right knee residual degenerative joint disease, posttraumatic left knee residual degenerative joint disease, and posttraumatic left ankle residual degenerative joint disease.

The Board found no ankle, knee, or hip injury or disorder manifested in service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, right ankle fracture, and third degree burns) are rated at 80 percent combined. The Board finds that these disabilities render the Veteran incapable of maintaining regular substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional medical evidence. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after all requested actions are completed.

The Veteran's initial rating for CAD was increased to 60 percent effective May 23, 2013. The TDIU claim is remanded as the Veteran has not been provided with a new VA examination or application form.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of the issues of entitlement to service connection for a disability manifested by jaw pain (claimed as due to exposure to paint remover) and entitlement to service connection for a left varicocele.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left knee and bilateral ankle disabilities are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected cold injuries to the feet. Therefore, these claims have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the current state of his left ankle replacement.