Ankle Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for a back disorder and granted service connection for a right ankle disorder. The issue of TDIU remains pending as it was remanded by the Board.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current right ankle disorder and sinus condition, including whether these conditions are related to his military service. The claims will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal concerning the remaining issues on appeal, including initial evaluations for psoriatic arthritis and iritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for residuals of right ankle sprain with degenerative changes (osteochondral lesion) and mild laxity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the likelihood that his bilateral ankle disability, pes planus, and bilateral shin splints are related to service. Any outstanding VA treatment records must be obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings for various conditions, including tendinopathy of the left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, ankle strain, tremor of uncertain etiology, and a gland condition. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease, C5-6 and C6-7, was rated at 20 percent, while his chronic low back strain remained at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected left ankle and left knee disabilities and his lumbar spine disorder. The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his right knee condition was denied because the evidence did not show a nexus between the current condition and service.,The Veteran's claim to reopen his pes planus with left ankle pain (left foot) was also denied because there was no evidence that the pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain or other symptoms. The Board finds that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board found that tinea pedis was incurred in active service and granted service connection for this condition. The Board also found no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's bilateral foot/ankle disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, right and left ankle disabilities (osteoarthritis), and hallux rigidus have been rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. No further increased ratings are warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability presents an exceptional or unusual disability picture due to marked interference with employment, warranting a 30 percent rating on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including ankle and psychiatric disorders, were denied. The decision also noted that the Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition prior to its adjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including asthma, mouth surgery, and right ear hearing loss, have been granted. The decision also indicates that the Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding other issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, as her current condition is not related to her period of active duty service. The other claims were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine and OA of the left ankle were denied. The DDD of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting higher disability ratings for her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected due to a stressor during his active duty in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations. The memory loss and insomnia are also considered as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness or chronic disability related to service. However, there is no evidence supporting a separate diagnosis for degenerative joint disease that can be attributed to an undiagnosed illness or other qualifying condition.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, right knee, and skin disorder of the face disabilities. The Veteran's hypertension reduction from 20% to 10% was found proper.