Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no current evidence of the claimed disorders and the Board finds that they are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records, particularly those from 2011 onwards related to his right ankle condition and since 2008 related to his right shoulder condition. The claims will be re-adjudicated after obtaining these records.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left and right ankles, as well as radiculopathy of the upper extremities, have been granted at 10 percent each. The rating for bilateral pes planus has also been granted at 10 percent.

The Board found that the pre-existing right ankle and foot disability did not increase in severity during service, thus denying service connection. The claim of service connection for Crohn's disease is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension have been reopened, but his claim for a left ankle disability remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle and left foot conditions are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's right lower extremity disabilities combine to a rating equal to or greater than that assigned for amputation of the right lower extremity above the knee. A higher disability rating cannot be assigned as such would violate the amputation rule.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right ankle laxity. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will also be addressed.

The Veteran's current left foot and ankle symptoms are related to the in-service injury of a laceration to the left foot due to a motorcycle accident, which is considered incurred in active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right ankle disabilities are not related to his military service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, including a fracture and cyst, has been rated at 20 percent since June 2006. The claim for higher ratings is granted.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for left ankle degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's claim was not filed until December 10, 2002. The decision is based on the fact that no informal or formal claims were submitted between 1973 and 2002.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The issues include service connection, increased ratings, and hearing loss.

The Board finds that the Veteran's recurrent bilateral ankle instability with ligament involvement is causally related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition. However, there is no evidence of current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise with regard to whether the Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder are secondary to his service-connected pes planus. As a result, these claims have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle strain is related to his in-service right ankle injury, and thus service connection for this disability is granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left ankle condition is not related to service or her service-connected bilateral metatarsalgia and post-operative hammertoe, left third toe. The examiner opined that the foot surgery was in a remote location from the ankle joint and could not affect it.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to the ratings and effective dates for various service-connected disabilities, including right ankle instability, right knee chondromalacia patella, left degenerative joint disease, and low back osteoarthritis. The appeals are being remanded due to scheduling issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. Service connection was not granted, but the Veteran's existing right ankle disability was rated based on its severity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, right ankle disability, and psychiatric disorder. The claim seeking an increased rating for his right knee disability was also denied.