Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee, hip, ankle, and back disorders. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle, great toe degenerative joint disease, and nerve damage to the right foot disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back, bilateral foot, cervical spine arthralgias, and right ankle disorders are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology or a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no competent credible evidence of a current disability or causally related to active service. The Veteran was not found to have a bilateral ankle disability, lower back disability, or hypertension secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew her claims for higher initial evaluations for scalp psoriasis and residuals of a left foot bunionectomy with degenerative changes, also claimed as nerve damage at her August 2010 hearing. The Board does not have jurisdiction over these withdrawn claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current lumbar spine disability related to service, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as it is manifested by no more than mild limitation of motion.

The Board granted service connection for shin splints and assigned a noncompensable evaluation effective September 1, 2005. The Veteran's cluster headaches, migrainous in nature, are currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of left ankle sprain have been manifested by marked limitation of motion and osteochondral defect. The Board finds that the disability does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a head injury, cervical spine injury, right foot injury, low back injury, and right shoulder disability must be remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, or respiratory disorder. The claims for these conditions are denied.

Service connection for a positive tuberculin skin test was granted. The Veteran's current arthritis of the right and left knees is rated at 10 percent each, with no higher evaluation warranted based on flexion limitation or other criteria. The Veteran's arthritis of the right ankle has been increased to 20 percent since August 14, 2008.,The Veteran's service connection for a positive tuberculin skin test was granted.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and his sleep disorder is also rated at 10 percent. Both conditions are currently evaluated as direct service connection without any presumption or secondary basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates related to his service-connected SFW residuals of the left wrist, forearm, elbow, and ankle. The appeal is dismissed due to lack of evidence showing CUE in the February 1970 rating decision.

The Veteran's unauthorized hospitalization at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center on February 2, 2009 was not rendered in a 'medical emergency' and VA facilities were feasibly available. Therefore, payment or reimbursement for the medical expenses is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and left ankle disabilities are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of a pre-existing condition or an in-service injury. The current conditions are considered to be due to natural progression.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Samaritan Medical Center from June 12, 2007 through June 13, 2007 are denied as the claimant has not provided information regarding his relationship with the lumber yard and whether he filed a lawsuit against the lumber yard for his injuries.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left ankle disability and neuroma. The case is remanded to schedule a VA examination to assess the current severity of these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability and assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The Veteran's left heel spur claim was also granted.