Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disorder is reasonably related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right and left ankle stress reactions have been rated at 20 percent since June 26, 2007. The lumbosacral strain with spina bifida occulta of S1 has also been granted service connection.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's residuals of a right ankle fracture, finding that his symptoms warrant this higher rating based on daily swelling and limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability and right ankle sprain were denied as there are no valid audiometric or clinical findings to support a compensable evaluation for the hearing loss, and his right ankle sprain is currently evaluated at 20 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left leg disability and granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left foot and left ankle. The Veteran's current disabilities are considered direct service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing left ankle and knee disabilities were not aggravated by his military service, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and new evidence is needed for a proper determination.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to deciding the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral ankle disability. The case is REMANDED for a new VA opinion and any other development as may be indicated by any response received.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left and right ankle disabilities, left and right leg disabilities, or hypertension. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

Service connection for a left ankle disability and tinnitus has been granted, with the left ankle sprain being service-connected based on direct evidence. Service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service and have denied all of his claims for service connection.,Specifically, the Board found no evidence of rheumatoid arthritis or tendinopathy in service and concluded that these conditions did not start during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right ankle sprain and associated conditions, osteoarthritis of the hips, and hypertension, are rated at a combined 70 percent. However, they do not preclude him from engaging in any regular substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to a need for additional substantive development, including scheduling of an appropriate VA examination and notification of the information and evidence necessary to substantiate his claims on secondary service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals on several issues, including those related to scars, knee conditions, and secondary service connection claims. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to consider these claims.

The Veteran's recurrent urinary tract infections are shown to have had their clinical onset during her active service, and the Board finds that she has a current disability. The VA examiner opined that it is at least as likely as not that any identified right ankle disability had its clinical onset in service or otherwise is due to an event or incident of her active duty service. However, no opinion was provided regarding whether any left ankle disability was caused by the right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal was timely filed, and the Board is reopening his claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability. The other claims remain pending.

The Board found that the appellant's right ankle disability was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic bilateral ankle disorder and a chronic bilateral hip disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were incurred during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left ankle sprain have been rated at 10 percent since July 2001. The VA has determined that the current evidence does not support an increase in his disability rating beyond this level.