Ankle Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a concussion, now claimed as TBI. However, the VA examiner found no evidence of current residuals from the 1975 concussion and concluded that the Veteran does not have residuals of TBI.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records. The issues are related to his left ankle sprain and instability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and another VA examination to evaluate the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's service-connected fracture of the left ankle is currently rated at 10 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on current medical evidence.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's left ankle disability, effective from January 4, 2011.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to her service-connected left ankle disability or if it has been aggravated by that condition. The Veteran also needs to have any recent VA treatment records obtained and associated with the claims file.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder. However, it did not reach a decision on whether these claims are well-grounded or meritorious.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for brain damage, memory loss, joint pain not otherwise specified, and somatoform psychiatric disability have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of a current disability that is related to active service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, left lower extremity/left ankle condition (crush injury), and bilateral pes planus are all rated at the maximum available under their respective diagnostic codes. The Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted for each of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hyperlipidemia, cellulitis, a right ankle disorder, influenza, tonsillitis, myositis, bilateral eye disorders (including astigmatism and presbyopia), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed hip, knee, and ankle disabilities are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left ankle disability and denied his claim for service connection. For the left knee disorder, the Board found no direct service connection due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a sinus disability, right shoulder disability, and right ankle disability were denied as current diagnosed disabilities were not demonstrated. The case is REMANDED to obtain outstanding treatment records and provide VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and assigned a disability rating of 20 percent effective from September 15, 2011. The Veteran's pes planus is rated at 20 percent prior to that date and the residuals of his left ankle injury are also rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current left foot and leg gouty arthritis is not related to his service, as there was no significant injury during ACDUTRA. The VA examiner found the injury in service to be soft tissue only with no evidence of bone or joint injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide an adequate medical examination of his service-connected left ankle disability, as the current VA examiner's opinion was inadequate and based on inaccurate facts.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is manifested by pain, stiffness, weakness and limitation of motion. The Board finds that the current evaluation of 20 percent adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims can be fully adjudicated, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to determine if she currently has disabilities related to service.