Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his left ankle disability and whether it is related to service-connected ulcerative pancolitis.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle, lumbosacral spine, bilateral hip and bilateral knee disabilities have effectively rendered him unable to use his lower extremities without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair. As such, he is entitled to specially adapted housing.

The Board has remanded the case to address service connection for bilateral hip, ankle, and left knee disorders due to inadequate rationale provided by a VA examiner regarding aggravation of these conditions. The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection for hypertensive retinopathy is also addressed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, GI disorder, back disorder, and neck disorder. However, the claim for service connection for a neck disorder remains denied as there is no medical evidence linking any current neck condition to service.

The Board has decided the claims for higher initial ratings for left knee and left ankle disabilities, finding that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle osteoarthritis is related to his service, as it was present since he injured his ankle during basic training. The Board found that the preexisting condition did not worsen in service and thus granted service connection for the disability.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 30 percent rating for post-operative left arthroscopic ankle joint debridement with scars, effective July 1, 2010, after finding that the reduction was not in accordance with law due to a procedural error.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance, nor does he qualify for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation assistance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected posttraumatic right ankle strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed foot and ankle disabilities are not related to his active duty service. The evidence does not show any current diagnoses of these conditions, nor is there credible evidence linking them to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disorders, claimed as knee strains, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claim for gouty arthritis causing joint pain involving hands/fingers, elbows, hips, ankle, and feet is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for basic eligibility for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits has been granted. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss, as well as the claims for PTSD, back disability, neck disability, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and traumatic brain injury have also been addressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral claw toes with dorsal callosities and metatarsalgia, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a stress fracture of the left tibia and fibula were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for bilateral claw toes, there was no current diagnosis of a left ankle disability, and the Veteran's service-connected left tibia and fibula disability did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability. The issue is whether the current left ankle disability was caused by service from May to September 1967 with periods of active and inactive duty for training.

The Veteran's bilateral hip and ankle disabilities are pending as the VA has not provided adequate opinions for these conditions.,A full grant of the benefit sought on appeal for left knee disability remains in appellate status.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left foot/ankle, low back, gouty arthritis, and chronic sinusitis. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of additional limitation of motion caused by pain, and further development is required.