Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left ankle disability, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected left foot disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is related to his in-service injury, and therefore service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury, to include a left superficial peroneal injury, is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder and left ankle disabilities, but has dismissed his claim of residuals of pneumonia. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis with painful motion of the toes, ankles and knees is being remanded due to a lack of a VA examination. The examiner must determine if he has arthritis with painful motion of the toes, ankles, and knees, and whether it is related to his service-connected bilateral claw foot.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been granted a 10 percent rating effective September 9, 2008. His diabetes mellitus claim remains pending.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not found to require regulation of activities prior to April 25, 2012.,Prior to April 25, 2012, the right foot disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records from July 2009 to August 2010. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disability and tarsal tunnel syndrome remains before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded to allow for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of the impact of his nonservice-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of his left ankle injury and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, as supported by medical evidence diagnosing the condition and linking it to in-service stressors. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and a right ankle disability are addressed separately.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran's bilateral ankle disorders are related to military service or his other service-connected disabilities, and for obtaining any relevant treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle disability has been manifested by a marked limitation of motion, evidence of degenerative arthritis, and subjective complaints of pain with no evidence of ankylosis. The criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service-connected disabilities, and therefore cannot establish service connection for residuals of bilateral frozen feet, bilateral ankle arthritis, or a left foot disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to service, and therefore denied his claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus and sleep apnea are related to service, while the remaining issues have been granted based on direct service connection. The dental disorder claim is reconsidered.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The RO found that the schedular criteria are adequate to rate each disability under consideration at all points pertinent to this appeal.,The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for SFW residuals of the right thigh/femur, involving impairment to MG XIV.

The Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis was initially rated at 20 percent from April 29, 2008 to August 14, 2012. Since then, the rating has been increased to 10 percent.

The Veteran's TBI with residual tension headaches is rated at 10 percent since January 17, 2013. The left ankle disability remains noncompensable prior to December 3, 2010 and rated at 10 percent since then. Bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent since January 9, 2013. Right and left calcaneal spurs are each rated at 10 percent since December 3, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle sprain, diagnosed during service and continuing since then, is related to his active duty service. As a result, service connection for residuals of right ankle sprain is granted.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not show marked limitation of motion or ankylosis.,The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities are both rated at 0 percent as there is no objective evidence of limitation of motion or functional impairment.