Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current right ankle and right hand disabilities. The issues on appeal are related to service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to his ability to perform sedentary work despite the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's non-compensable service-connected disabilities do not interfere with his employability, and therefore, the claim for a 10 percent rating is denied.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the current severity of his right ankle condition and any diagnosed disability associated with dizziness. Additionally, a VA opinion will be obtained regarding whether the Veteran's narcolepsy is caused or permanently worsened by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's GERD was rated at 10 percent prior to December 3, 2010 and increased to 30 percent effective from that date. The criteria for a higher rating are not met.,For lumbosacral strain, the Veteran received a 10 percent rating prior to December 3, 2010 and a 20 percent rating effective from that date. The criteria for a higher rating are not met.,The Veteran's postoperative residuals of a stress fracture of the right ankle were rated at 20 percent since July 1, 2007. The criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 29, 2002 for the award of service connection for PTSD with MDD. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn.

The Board has found that further development is necessary regarding the Veteran's increased rating claim for his right ankle disability. The case is REMANDED to obtain VA treatment records and private medical records from Tulane University.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current chronic bilateral shoulder disability, right ankle disability, or cervical spine disability related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against his claims for these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and dismissed the appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability. The claim of service connection for sterility is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, cervical osteoarthritis, residuals of a right ankle injury, scar of the right thigh, and erectile dysfunction, result in a combined rating of 90 percent. The Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as he has more than one disability rated at least 40 percent disabling.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and higher ratings for his right shoulder disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that the earliest possible effective date was February 25, 2003, and denying entitlement to staged ratings.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been productive of no more than moderate limitation of motion due to pain during flare-ups and reports of swelling, with only minimal osteoarthritis shown on x-ray. Since October 21, 2009, the Veteran's left ankle disability has been manifested by pain, swelling and significant limited motion, but without ankylosis; resulting in an overall disability picture more nearly approximating marked limitation of motion of the left ankle.

The Veteran's right elbow disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.,The Veteran's left ankle disability is granted as it had onset in service and is related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability more nearly approximates marked limitation of motion, warranting a 20 percent rating since July 2008.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His right ankle strains, left ankle strains, and right knee retropatellar pain syndrome are currently rated at 10 percent each. Tinnitus is presumed to be related to service, but bilateral hearing loss has not been diagnosed or shown.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left ankle disability was dismissed due to withdrawal. The effective date for the grant of a 10 percent disability rating for residuals of a left ankle fracture is set at June 7, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The appeal will be remanded to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left leg/calf disability. However, the claim remains denied as there is no evidence showing that the Veteran's disabilities are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding the aggravation prong of the secondary service connection claim.