Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the initial extraschedular evaluation in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a fracture of the distal tibia and fibula with degenerative arthritis of the right ankle and an anterior tarsal syndrome.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ankle disability is not related to any in-service injury and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private medical records. The case will be returned to the Board for readjudication.

The Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for pilondial cyst, right ankle injury, and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from New Orleans.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service-connected disabilities and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability is not attributable to military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's current left ankle condition was not incurred or aggravated by his military service, and the Board found no credible evidence to support a connection between his in-service activities and his present disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left ankle disability was denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating based on moderate limitation of motion of the left ankle.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service treatment records and to request in-patient clinical records from the US Army Hospital in Fort Carson and Landstuhl Hospital. The AOJ will then readjudicate his claims based on the updated evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, low back condition, bilateral ankle condition, and bilateral Achilles tendon condition. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is also addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to assess the current severity of her left knee and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a hernia, residuals of a right arm/wrist injury (including carpal tunnel syndrome and DJD), and residuals of a right ankle injury. The evidence does not support a finding that any current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's right ankle strain with fifth metatarsal fracture has resulted in a disability that equates to marked limitation of motion, but ankylosis of the right ankle has not been shown. The pain from the healed fifth metatarsal fracture does not cause functional debility equivalent to moderate foot injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle disability, scar, and numbness of the peroneal nerve have been denied as there is no evidence of marked limitation of motion or other factors warranting a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for coronary artery disease but denied all other claims due to lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a left leg or knee condition, and a left foot or ankle condition are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not meet the threshold requirements for a TDIU rating as his combined disability rating is less than 70%. The Board finds that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, primarily his PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require regular assistance of another person, meeting the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at John Archbold Memorial Hospital on May 30, 2008 is denied because a VA facility was feasibly available to treat his right knee and ankle pain within five days.