Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability, and for consideration of any new evidence added since the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including scleroderma of the back or 'dry skin', hypertension, arthritis of the joints, and a bilateral foot disorder. The issues involving PTSD reopening, diabetes mellitus effective dates, and anatomical loss of both feet were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for back and left knee disabilities, but reopened the claim for a left ankle disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's residuals of right distal tibia (ankle) fracture are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence and VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and updating his claims file with any relevant post-service treatment records.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of service connection for liver disease, left eye blindness, left ankle injury, PTSD, left leg and knee injury, right ankle injury, colon cancer, tinnitus, and prostate problems.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional efforts to locate his service treatment records and personnel records, including those from McGuire Air Force Base, Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, Osan Air Force Base in Korea, and Bolling Air Force Base. The Veteran will be scheduled for appropriate VA examinations if new records confirm any of his alleged injuries or illnesses.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, and right inferior orbital wall fracture residuals were denied. The Board found no current evidence of a hearing loss disability or compensable rating for the left ankle disability. The right inferior orbital wall fracture residuals did not result in any additional functional impairment beyond what is already considered under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding no competent evidence of current disability or persistent/recurrent symptoms related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right arm disability and bilateral pes planus, including as due to residuals of cold weather trauma. The Veteran's right ankle disability was also denied an increased rating.,Service connection for the claimed conditions is not granted.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current right ankle disability and the Veteran's statements regarding an in-service injury are not credible. As such, service connection for a right ankle disability cannot be granted.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's evaluation from 30 percent to 10 percent for residuals of a fracture, left ankle, was not proper and restored the original 30 percent rating effective September 1, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for right hip and ankle disabilities, as well as other service-connected conditions, were denied. The Board found no current disability of the right or left ankles.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right ankle fracture, finding that his injury occurred during his OTH period of service and thus could not be considered incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated at 40 percent since May 21, 2008. The right knee disability has been rated with separate additional ratings of 30 percent for extension limited to less than normal and 10 percent for instability.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by instability and post-traumatic arthritis, has not resulted in malunion or nonunion of the tibia or fibula. Therefore, a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notice and a VA examination. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records, and a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's right ankle/foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic right ankle sprain, PTSD, and plantar fasciitis have been denied. The Board found that the current evaluations of 10% are appropriate.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for postoperative residuals of a right ankle sprain was denied, as the evidence does not support an increase in disability rating.,For TDIU, the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria and his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.