Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anatomical loss of the left eye and cataract in the right eye, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. Therefore, his claim for a TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and her arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred due to a lack of evidence showing it within one year after separation from active duty. The issue regarding her right ankle disability is pending as remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a fractured left ankle and lumbar spine issues have been remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been manifested by symptoms corresponding to a 30 percent evaluation and no higher, prior and subsequent to his total knee replacement surgery.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a low back injury or disease during service, and the current lumbar spine degenerative joint disease is not related to service. The Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is also not proximately due to, or worsened in severity by, the service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, residuals of left ankle sprain and chip fracture, and cervical strain and muscle spasm as these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle condition is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection based on his right ankle disability. As a result, the claim for service connection for a left ankle condition, including as secondary to a service-connected right ankle disability, is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury and right ankle disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left shoulder, right knee, or left knee disability. The service connection criteria for these conditions are not met as there is no objective evidence establishing a current disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that the evidence does not support a relationship between his current condition and his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle and right shoulder disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating based on their current severity.

The Veteran's right ankle and low back disorders have not been diagnosed, while he has a current diagnosis of a burn scar on his left arm.,Service connection for the burn scar was granted.

The Veteran requested to withdraw the appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, bronchial asthma, lumbosacral strain, left arm radiculopathy associated with cervical strain, right shoulder acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease, residuals of a right wrist injury with fibrositis, left ankle injury, tinnitus, sinusitis, left knee injury, and cervical strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to include a new VA examination that evaluates the current severity of his service-connected right ankle disorder, considering functional loss due to pain and other associated symptoms.

The Veteran's TDIU rating was granted effective January 14, 2009. The Board found that a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis should have been granted as early as November 19, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, was incurred in service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated at 20 percent disabling throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other factors warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disorder, lumbar spine disorder, hemorrhoids, and basal cell carcinoma are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship with his military service.