Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities have been denied as there is no current evidence of a diagnosed disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and temporary total rating as the Veteran withdrew her appeal in May 2012. The claim for an earlier effective date prior to July 28, 2009 for the grant of service connection for status post hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy secondary to service-connected Crohn's disease is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for dependency benefits was denied as the evidence did not show that he had submitted information about his dependents within a year of being notified of his combined rating in January 2007.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to outstanding treatment records, need for new examinations during a flare-up period, and other procedural issues.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a left ankle or left calf disability due to disease or injury incurred in service, and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Fremont Area Medical Center on June 21, 2010, and June 22, 2010, are approved as the nearest VA facility was not feasibly available and a prudent layperson would have sought treatment from a private hospital.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is due to his service-connected right ankle disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to issues with the timing of his initial appeals for increased ratings on his service-connected left knee and right ankle disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after issuance of a statement of the case.

The appeal is being remanded due to the Veteran's failure to return a withdrawal form and his request for immediate Board review. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining additional treatment records.

The Veteran's left ankle arthroplasty with residual scars is rated at 40 percent, effective from September 1, 2011. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate explanation of reasons and bases for denying service connection for knee and ankle conditions, claimed as secondary to service-connected pes planus. The case is now being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left leg disability.

The Veteran does not have a current bilateral ankle disability and the evidence does not support service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ankle disability, diagnosed as post calcaneal bursitis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not secondary to a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records from the Marine Reserve and a VA audiology examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle fracture with right split tear of the peroneus brevis, status post ankle surgery with residual scar is currently rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right fifth metacarpal fracture are currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, right ankle deltoid ligament strain, and left ankle strain have been rated based on their current manifestations. The RO has granted increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a left ankle disorder. The reopened claim is being remanded for further development.,Service connection for a spine disorder, as well as an osteopenic bone density disorder, will be denied due to lack of aggravation during active duty.

The Veteran died of a myocardial infarction. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities did not cause, hasten, or substantially contribute to his death.