Ankle Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and residuals of a right ankle sprain. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle degenerative joint disease and right leg varicose veins have been granted, with each receiving a 20 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current bilateral ankle disability and his service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the issues of a disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to November 2, 2012, for residuals of a right ankle injury, including degenerative joint disease and an effective date earlier than July 26, 2005, for the grant of a 20 percent disability rating for residuals of a right ankle injury, including degenerative joint disease.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ankle disorder and left heel spurs are not related to her service-connected left knee strain with iliotibial band syndrome, and therefore denied both claims.

Prior to October 3, 2013, the Veteran's right ankle disability was rated at 20 percent.,From October 3, 2013, the Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left ankle disabilities, as well as service connection for a disability claimed as left leg pain. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, as well as incomplete development for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to April 25, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing due to the lack of notice regarding an earlier scheduled hearing. The claims for service connection are pending.

The Board found no evidence of a right ankle disorder related to service, but the Veteran's left ankle condition was granted. The decision is mixed as it grants one issue and denies another.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is related to his active military service due to ischemic heart disease, which was presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure. The Board also found that the ischemic heart disease contributed to the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for an examination. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the Veteran's left ankle disability, right fibula fracture, low back disability, and left knee disability. The claims will be reviewed again after these actions are completed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including a VA examination to address service connection claims for residuals of a fractured cheek bone, broken nose, and sprained ankle. The appellant's periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA) are relevant to these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for VA examinations and determine the current severity of his service-connected pes planus, as well as whether his right ankle sprain is related to service. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a new VA examination to address service connection claims for left knee and left ankle disorders.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is manifested by symptoms of pain, stiffness, weakness, and mild limitation of motion caused by pain on motion. The Board finds that the criteria for an initial rating of 10 percent have been met.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a visual disorder, right ankle sprain, and bilateral hearing loss. However, it is unable to grant these claims as new evidence does not establish that current disabilities are related to service.