Ankle Board decisions

The evidence does not show the Veteran currently has a bilateral ankle disability, and therefore service connection cannot be established.

The Veteran's right knee disability is found to be the result of an injury incurred in service. Service connection for a left ankle disability and a right ankle disability are also granted, with the latter potentially due to aggravation by her service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical examination and review of the claims file, including the December 2010 motor conduction studies. The Veteran's service connection claims for left knee disability, bilateral wrist and thumb disability, and left ankle disability will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently suffer from a right ankle disorder or residuals of a broken right foot as a result of his military service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a cognitive disorder as one of the residuals of TBI sustained in service. The Veteran's TBI is related to an accidental explosion during active duty.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right ankle arthritis and instability are etiologically related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left ankle disorder, as well as his claim for an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran did not have a left ankle disability or provide credible evidence to support his claimed residuals from a left ankle sprain.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his ankle and hip disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions had markedly interfered with his employment status or necessitated frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent, and his left ankle sprain with post-traumatic degenerative changes is rated as 20 percent effective June 23, 2009.

The Veteran's left shoulder, left ankle, right ankle, pes planus, and right shoulder and forearm lipomas were not found to be related to service or any other service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or specially adapted housing benefits due to his inability to walk without significant assistance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, migraine headaches, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and rashes were not incurred or aggravated by her military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to July 10, 2009 were denied as there was no evidence of unemployability due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an updated VA examination to assess the current extent of his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a left wrist laceration do not warrant an initial schedular disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disorders, as well as right and left ankle disorders. However, further development is required to determine the appropriate rating and effective date for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are inextricably intertwined, necessitating remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his right ankle disorder. The issues will be adjudicated again after further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and any existing treatment records from Bentwaters Air Base. The appellant is also scheduled for a VA examination to determine if he has the claimed disabilities and whether they are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.