Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a service-connected left ankle disability, and thus the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle disability, with additional limitation of motion due to pain and antalgic gait, more nearly approximated marked limited motion of the left ankle. Therefore, a 20 percent rating is granted for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has found that traumatic arthritis of the right foot, status post motor vehicle accident, did not pre-exist service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, it is not presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active military service. The effective date is not applicable in this case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an upper back disorder, left ankle disorder, and left thigh disorder due to a lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's post-traumatic arthritis of the left ankle is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5271. The VA examiners found moderate limitation of motion but no evidence of marked limitation.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including pain of the knees, ankles, feet, hands (including fingers), chronic fatigue, upper respiratory symptoms, and headaches, are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing their onset during active duty or being attributable to a known clinical diagnosis.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain was rated at 20 percent since September 1, 2010. The penile condyle is currently rated as noncompensable but has been granted a compensable rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle strain, manifested by limited motion and tenderness, does not warrant a higher disability rating than the current 10 percent assigned.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to assess the current severity of his left hip, left ankle, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for hypertension cannot be reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for a skin disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and coronary artery disease have all been denied as there is no competent or credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran not filing a timely Notice of Disagreement within one year of the July 2006 rating decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for pes planus and headaches were denied, but her claim for a left ankle disorder was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting pes planus did not worsen during service, and there is no current evidence of chronic headaches. However, she has been diagnosed with a left ankle disorder presumed related to active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and a left ankle disability, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and no current disabilities are linked to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability had its onset in service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's ankle and back disorders, as well as additional records are required. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder and left ankle disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, sleep disorder, headaches, breathing problems (asthma), bilateral shoulder disabilities, ankle disabilities, and knee disabilities, all of which were claimed as due to Persian Gulf War undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran is seeking TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board has determined that an updated VA examination and records are needed to fully evaluate the claim.

The Board denied extraschedular ratings in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities, finding that the schedular evaluations adequately considered his symptoms and disability.