Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has remanded the accrued benefits claims for papillary squamous cell carcinoma, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, right ankle disability, thyroid disability, PTSD, and depression to issue a Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for IBS with GERD, effective from the date of the decision. The claim to reopen service connection for low back disability is granted and the Veteran's IBS with GERD is rated under Diagnostic Code 7319.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle fracture, left leg fracture, and right leg fracture were denied as there is no credible evidence of such injuries during his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the ankles was denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen his claim for service connection for arthritis of the feet claimed as due to cold exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent disabling due to moderate limitation of motion, and no higher rating is warranted under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disorder is related to service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's left foot disability is related to his service-connected right ankle disability and addressing the use of adaptive equipment. The case will be returned to the Board after this additional development.

The Board denied entitlement to an extraschedular evaluation for right knee arthritis and found that the available schedular evaluations adequately described his disability level. The issue of service connection for a right ankle disorder is pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left ankle disability and service connection for hyperlipidemia (elevated cholesterol) were denied as the conditions are not considered disabilities for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's original claim for service connection was received on September 16, 2002, before his discharge from service. Therefore, an effective date of October 1, 2002, is granted for the grant of service connection for multiple disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO in St. Petersburg, Florida and the issuance of an SOC on the issue of entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities of the bilateral knees and ankles were not incurred or aggravated by service, either on a direct basis or due to any presumptive conditions. The VA examiner found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA examination and lack of private treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disorders are being reviewed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities due to new evidence provided by private medical records. The claim is granted as there is now a reasonable possibility that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that it is related to the Veteran's service-connected peroneal tendonitis of the right ankle with chronic instability and a chronic lateral complex tear.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Rosai Dorman disease with destruction of the left elbow and bilateral ankle disability were denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability is a residual of in-service injuries and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to her inability to be contacted, and the case will be further reviewed after obtaining updated information.