Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected scars of the left ankle, right shoulder, back, and left arm have not been shown to meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current diagnoses for the Veteran's claimed bilateral ankle, foot, and hip joint conditions. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of November 5, 2008 for the grant of service connection for a right ankle lateral malleolus avulsion chip fracture. The Veteran never submitted any unadjudicated formal or informal claims prior to this date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the claims of service connection for right knee, left elbow, and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran is granted an increased rating from 20 percent to 30 percent for his right leg muscle disability of MGs XI and XII, with a separate compensable evaluation of 10 percent for his scar disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability have been denied as there is no competent evidence showing a current disability related to service. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for inguinal hernia has also been denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his low back, neck, wrist, ankle, and knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support a rating higher than 40 percent for his lumbosacral spine disability, 30 percent for his cervical spine disability, 10 percent for his right wrist injury, 10 percent for his right ankle disability, or 10 percent for his right knee tendonitis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's appeal is currently on hold.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle injury did not manifest during service and is not otherwise related to his military service. The claim for a right ankle disorder was previously denied, but new evidence received since then does not meet the criteria for reopening the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain VA treatment records. The issues of increased ratings for right calcaneal and fibula stress fractures, left foot hallux valgus deformity with second and third hammertoes, and left ankle strain are pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and an updated VA examination.

The claims for service connection for a nervous condition/depression and left ankle injury were not granted, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted with a 10% rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed bilateral foot, ankle, hip, hand, and shoulder disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic kidney disease has been denied. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease and for a TDIU remain under review.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip, right ankle, left wrist, and right wrist disabilities. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that these conditions are related to active military service.

The Board found no evidence of a preexisting right ankle condition that was aggravated by service, and concluded that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease did not manifest within one year after separation from service. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected disabilities, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings has been withdrawn by his authorized representative.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of an insect bite to the lower back, bilateral bunions and bunionectomy residuals, and bilateral ankle disability have been granted.,Service connection is established for these conditions as they are related to her period of active duty training (ACDUTRA).