Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for a video-conference hearing and further review of the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and examination to address the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD based on in-service personal assault. The VA will obtain relevant medical records from SSA and schedule examinations to determine if any current psychiatric or neurological conditions are related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right plantar calcaneal spur with plantar fasciitis is related to his active service, granting service connection for this condition. The Board also determined that there was no evidence linking the left ankle osteoarthritis and right Achilles tendonitis to his in-service parachute jumps.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee and left ankle disabilities are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service injury and his current conditions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral foot/ankle disabilities. The VA examination report is inadequate, and the case is REMANDED to obtain a medical opinion addressing whether any pre-existing foot and/or ankle disability existed prior to service and was aggravated by it.

The Veteran's left ankle instability is rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of the claimed conditions during or since service, and they are not related to his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left ankle disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of higher DCs.

The Board finds that the appellant's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity has resulted in weakness and numbness with occasional, partial left foot drop tantamount to no worse than moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve. Therefore, an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 17, 2009. The Veteran's service-connected left elbow disability is currently rated at 10 percent. Both disabilities are denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a link between the claimed disabilities and his service-connected conditions, or any other presumptive basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining verification of his service periods and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are related to his service, including his in-service duties as a jet mechanic.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ankle and foot disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service, and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for consideration of an extra-schedular evaluation due to his service-connected disabilities, as he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle and bilateral hip disabilities are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current bilateral ankle disorder related to service, and thus the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's appeal is remanded due to his failure to appear at a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate consideration after scheduling a new hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any chronic right ankle, foot, big toe, low back, hip, and leg disorders found to be present. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after the additional evidence is considered.