Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and his low back condition and left ankle sprain and chip fracture were not shown to be related to service. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran is not eligible for financial assistance in purchasing specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to the lack of anatomical loss or use of either lower extremity.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability meeting VA standards and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The left heel and ankle condition was not aggravated by active duty, as the surgery in 2004 alleviated symptoms resulting from the pre-service surgery. Service connection for bladder dysfunction was granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle, left ankle, and low back disabilities are not related to his service-connected left knee disability or to his period of active service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder, status post bilateral hip replacement, hypertension, and arthritis of the ankles, shoulders, and cervical spine with radiculopathy were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a direct relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for neck and left ankle disabilities were denied. The lumbosacral spine disability was granted with a 40% rating, but no higher. Right knee arthritis and recurrent subluxation of the left knee were not granted increased ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for her thoracolumbar spine, left ankle injury, rhinitis with sinusitis, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities. The evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a hearing by video conference at the RO, and the Veteran's claims will be returned to the Board after that.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted. The claims of service connection for osteoporosis and left ankle disability were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records. The issue of an increased rating for residuals of a right ankle fracture remains under review.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's foot, ankle, and toe disabilities as well as whether she incurred any additional disabilities from VA dental treatment. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder, left ankle sprain residuals, and low back strain disabilities have been granted initial evaluations. The right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, the left ankle sprain residuals are rated at 10 percent, and the low back strain is rated as non-compensable.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence submitted without a waiver of RO consideration, and the Veteran requested that his appeal be remanded for RO consideration in the first instance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle and pericarditis are being remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notice, additional medical records, and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and medical examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee, ankle, low back, and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus, status-post stress fracture, left foot (including claims for left ankle inversion and sprain), and mechanical low back pain with degenerative changes at L5-S1.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee or right ankle disorder during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection as there was insufficient continuity of symptoms to establish a current disability related to his military service.

The Veteran had continuous symptoms of erectile dysfunction beginning during or shortly after service, and this condition is presumed to be related to exposure to toxic solvents.,The Veteran began experiencing weakness in the ankles and legs during or shortly after service, and this condition is presumed to be related to exposure to toxic solvents.,The Veteran had edema of the legs that is presumed to be related to exposure to toxic solvents.,Service connection for a lung disorder was denied in 1948 but new evidence received prior to the Veteran's death raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran began experiencing symptoms of BPH during service and this condition is presumed to be related to exposure to toxic solvents.,The Veteran had depression with related stress and anxiety, which is presumed to be related to service, including combat experiences.,The Veteran had chronic dry skin on the hands that is presumed to be related to exposure to toxic solvents or service-connected chronic renal failure.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder did not exist prior to his second period of active duty service and was not aggravated by such service. The disability is considered a direct result of his active duty.

The Board found no evidence of a pre-existing condition for the claimed disabilities and concluded that they were not incurred or aggravated by service.