Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, schedule a VA examination, and readjudicate the TDIU claim. The issues of service connection for depression and increased evaluations for right ankle and bilateral knee disabilities are also being addressed.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his right and left ankle disabilities, as well as his right and left knee disabilities, were granted at 20 percent each. The appeal is not about service connection but rather the evaluation of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling him for VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of kidney stones, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran did not sustain an in-service injury to his left ankle and there is no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service separation. The current diagnosis of arthritis of the left ankle was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar strain is not found to have caused or aggravated any of his claimed bilateral hip, knee, ankle, or foot disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and vertigo and cephalgia due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a right ankle injury, blood clots of the right leg, migraines, hemoptysis (blood in sputum), and chondroma of the left ring finger. The decision was based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left lower extremity disability, including a posterior process talus fracture of the heel with associated tendinitis and degenerative joint disease, resulted in a severe foot disability warranting a 30 percent rating prior to February 13, 2009. From that date until present, he has had a moderate muscle group XI (left flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, and peroneal tendinitis) disability, which warrants a separate 10 percent rating.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for arthritis of both hips and ankles, diagnosed in March 1995.,Separate ratings are being remanded for the Veteran's skin conditions.

The Veteran's left ankle lateral instability is rated at 20 percent from February 8, 2008 to April 28, 2009. The Veteran's IBS is rated at 30 percent effective since the date of his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation of the face, chest and right ankle, chronic cough, and headaches as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite of the left hand, right hand, and right ankle disability are denied as there is no current diagnosis. The claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is secondary to his service-connected ulnar neuritis.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have current left or right ankle disabilities and there is no evidence of a nexus between any diagnosed disability and her active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the relationship between his current right ankle and leg disabilities and his active duty service, including any old fractures. The Veteran may also need to provide more information about the location of his amputation procedure.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and a headache disorder have been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service occurrence that would support the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus and arthritis of bilateral feet and ankles, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and his military service.