Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability was incurred in, or caused by, his active service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for residuals of right ankle traumatic arthritis is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and clarifying details about his right ankle fracture.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no final decision has been made on any of the issues raised.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before a third VLJ who will participate in the panel decision on whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims of entitlement to service connection for disabilities of the bilateral knees and left ankle.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left leg and right ankle disabilities were denied as there is no current diagnosed disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected left ankle disability were denied. The initial evaluation was found to be appropriate at all relevant times.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the appellant's whereabouts being unknown. The case will be returned for further evaluation of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ankle disability is not attributable to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle strain, osteoarthritis of the left hip, and low back condition. However, effective dates prior to the dates of the original claims have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic right ankle sprain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating as his disability has resulted in no more than moderate functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including verification of stressor events and obtaining VA treatment records. He also needs to undergo examinations for his claimed psychiatric disability, headaches, hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, stress fractures of the ankles, and stress fractures of the feet.

The Board found that the Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen his August 1982 RO administrative decision, which held that injuries incurred in a December 7, 1980 motorcycle accident were not incurred in line of duty. The Board also determined that there is no direct link between the Veteran's current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction is currently evaluated at 20 percent. The left ankle sprain with a history of gout warrants a 10 percent evaluation. Both right knee and left knee degenerative joint disease are each rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any diagnosis or treatment for sand flea bites. The most recent VA examination found no current residuals of sand flea bites.,There is no evidence of active cellulitis of the left ankle during service, and post-service VA examinations have consistently shown only a history of cellulitis with plantar dyshidrosis.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right ankle and right foot disabilities are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, conduct further VA examinations, and consider the evidence in its entirety.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service. The other claims were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated as 60 percent disabling since March 24, 2010.,Prior to March 24, 2010, the Veteran's thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities are each rated as 10 percent disabling. Since March 24, 2010, her lumbar spine disability is rated as 40 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral ankle disability, characterized as chronic laxity with mild functional limitation, is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.