Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, including arthritis, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiner found no evidence of such conditions during service and concluded they are less likely than not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn as to the claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorder and bilateral ankle disorder. The Board found that there is at least as likely as not that the Veteran has sleep apnea, which had its onset during his last period of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right ankle disabilities, as well as his sleep apnea, are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's receipt of Social Security Administration disability benefits and a need for additional medical records. The issues on appeal include service connection for various joint disorders.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for left ankle peroneal tenosynovitis is denied as there was no factually ascertainable increase in disability prior to January 27, 2010.

The Veteran's temporary total evaluation for convalescence due to right ankle surgery from April 7, 2009, through January 12, 2010, is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development of his service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for left and right ankle sprains, as well as gastrointestinal disability with history of old healed ulcer duodenum (gastrointestinal disability), were denied. Service connection for low back disability was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 30, 2009 for a 10% disability rating for his right ankle disability. The evidence did not show that it was factually ascertainable that an increase in disability had occurred within one year prior to the Veteran's January 30, 2009 claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his right knee, ankle, and foot disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the claims of service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and for increase in ratings for headaches and hypertensive retinopathy.

The Board has granted initial noncompensable evaluations for the service-connected headaches and PTSD, but denied an increased evaluation for TBI residuals. The right ankle disorder claim is not supported by evidence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle disabilities and whether they are related to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left ankle disability was granted, with a rating of 10 percent effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to properly determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral ankle conditions, as there are conflicting medical opinions in the record.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and disabilities, including numbness and tingling of the hands and feet, heart palpitations, right hip disability, high cholesterol, allergies, stress fractures, left knee disability, papillary necrosis, temporomandibular joint disorder, a lump on the cheek, right ankle disability, pelvic pain, fecal incontinence, urinary incontinence, hernia of the abdominal wall, and hemorrhoids. The appeal is being remanded for further action.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, GERD, residual scar from a left breast lumpectomy, tinnitus, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as his conditions are not related to his military service or due to exposure to Gulf War Syndrome. His current disabilities, such as obesity and hypertension, do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder, including as due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The claim for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the right knee was also denied.