Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected left ankle sprain residuals and penile condyloma are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new video conference hearing due to his inability to attend the previously scheduled one.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and sciatica of both lower extremities, substantially contributed to his death from myocardial infarction. The appellant is also entitled to a TDIU due to her husband's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings for his service-connected conditions have been granted, with the exception of his claim for an increased rating for dyssomnia.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as any SSA disability records. The case will be readjudicated after the requested information has been obtained.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No decision was made on the merits of any claims.

The Veteran's left ankle disorder, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, was incurred in service and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral ankle disability, bilateral dysfunction of the posterior tibial tendons, and bilateral loss of muscles of the calf as secondary to his service-connected pes planus.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral ankle and knee disabilities are not related to his service, including a motor vehicle accident during ACDUTRA. The VA examinations do not support a direct relationship between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's rate of payment for nonservice-connected pension benefits has been denied due to her countable income exceeding the required amount.,Service connection for right ankle disorder is not granted as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for right leg disorder and right foot disorder are also not granted, as they are not found to be secondary to a service-connected disability or directly related to service.,The Veteran's current right ankle, right leg, and right foot disorders do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of a chest disability, right wrist disability, and right ankle disability. The case is being remanded for further development including examinations to determine the likely etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and obstructive sleep apnea prior to a decision by the Board. The case is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination for the right ankle disability, clarifying which shoulder should be service connected in the January 2014 examiner's opinion, and providing an addendum opinion by another examiner if necessary.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his left ankle fracture and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for the right ankle scars, maintaining the assigned 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings were denied as there was no medical evidence indicating the severity of his left shoulder disability before July 27, 2004.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD and the residuals of his left ankle fracture, as well as to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for chloracne, are dismissed. The temporary total convalescent rating for the residuals of the left ankle fracture is extended by two months beyond October 31, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his knee disabilities and left ankle osteoarthritis, as well as service connection for a urinary disorder. The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the knee disabilities at the May 2013 hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a contemporaneous orthopedic examination of his right ankle disability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cellulitis of the left ankle and found that new evidence received since the last final denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. However, there is no current diagnosis of cellulitis or residuals thereof, nor any established link between the Veteran's in-service cellulitis and his current disabilities.