Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is service-connected, but her knee and ankle disabilities are not. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities reasonably result in his requiring assistance with a number of his activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing and dressing, and he requires care or assistance on a regular basis to protect himself from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise and supports a grant of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The case is being remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling a video conference hearing.

The Board granted the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for residuals of a fractured left scapula and a left ankle sprain, but denied his appeals for increased ratings for Bell's palsy, tinnitus, hearing loss, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding Bell's palsy and tinnitus in April 2011.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, right great toe arthritis, left humerus fracture residuals, dental trauma to teeth numbers 7, 8, and 9, right hand and left hand arthritis, right ankle and left ankle arthritis, left thumb arthritis, and right and left knee arthritis. The appeal is based on the merits of these conditions without any presumption or new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition and lumbosacral strain, finding no current disability or evidence of a causal link to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected left ankle and lumbar spine disabilities. The RO will also review all evidence received since the December 2008 statement of the case.

The Veteran's left lower leg radiculopathy and right ankle disability are not service-connected, and the current evaluations for these conditions do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is attributable to active duty service and he has been granted service connection for this condition. The Board also found that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder and left ankle disorder are not directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's diagnosed lumbodorsal back disability, including shoulder and hip pain, is considered service-connected due to an undiagnosed illness associated with Gulf War service.,Ankle joint pain is also considered service-connected as an undiagnosed illness related to Gulf War service.

The Veteran's tendonitis and tenosynovitis of the right foot at the insertion of the peroneus brevis, as residuals of a right ankle injury, are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a pinched nerve of the upper back, bilateral ankle pain, and bilateral leg pain have been denied. The Board found no current disability related to these conditions and insufficient evidence linking them to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle injury and right lung disability, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability related to service.

The Board has identified several issues for remand, including the need to provide a Statement of the Case (SOC) concerning service connection for left ear hearing loss and increased evaluations for pes planus, left foot, and residuals of left ankle injury. Additionally, a VA audiological examination is required to assess the current level of severity of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and further analysis of his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee internal derangement and osteoarthritis are granted, but his claimed hip, ankle, and foot disabilities are not found to be related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left ankle fracture with degenerative joint disease, right ankle and hip arthritis, and right knee degenerative joint disease, meet the criteria for a schedular total disability rating from May 7, 2004 to November 6, 2008. The claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of sufficient evidence to decide the claim, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination by a medical professional with expertise in rheumatology.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's medical records and clarify certain issues. The case will be remanded for these purposes.