Ankle Board decisions

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's right ankle disability rating from 20 percent to 10 percent was not proper and restored the original 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an increased rating for the left ankle disability are granted. The Board finds that the Veteran is likely as not to have injured his left thumb in service, leading to current post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle sprain residuals are due to an injury sustained during his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right tibia and fibula fracture with degenerative changes of the right ankle are currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum evaluation authorized under Diagnostic Code 5262. The duodenal ulcer has been assigned a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for ankle and foot disorders, as well as an increased rating for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of his medical history.

The Veteran's right leg disorder is not related to his service-connected condition.,However, the Veteran has a current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the right ankle that is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected status post excision, osteochondroma, left distal fibula.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have tendonitis of the shoulders, right wrist, knees, and ankles during service or within one year after separation. The current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including evaluations for various joint conditions and a request for TDIU. The case is being remanded due to the Veteran requesting a personal appearance before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee and right ankle disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to it. The case is now remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection for right knee disability. The preponderance of evidence showed that the left ankle disability did not result in marked limitation of motion, thus denying an increased rating. Regarding the right knee disability, the claim was decided on a direct basis without any indication of secondary or other theories.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected right and left ankle disorders, hypertension, and gastritis were denied. The Veteran also had claims regarding a right knee disorder that were not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for gouty arthritis of bilateral ankles was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to June 18, 2009, and for a 10 percent rating from that date forward.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for hemorrhoids was also denied by the Board. They determined that his hemorrhoid pathology did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran does not have residuals of right knee injury, left knee injury, right ankle injury, or left ankle injury due to service. His claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left shoulder and clavicle disorder, as well as his left ankle disorder, are not related to his active military service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury and residuals of a head injury, as it is neither new nor material. As such, the claims are denied.

The Board found no current disability related to the Veteran's knee and ankle disorders, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain with degenerative changes was found to have no more than moderate limitation of motion, and thus did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete examination reports and outstanding VA medical records. The Veteran is required to undergo further examinations and provide additional evidence as requested.