Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD and left ankle conditions, meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU due to their combined effect on his ability to work.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disorder is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was remanded due to procedural issues. The claim for an increased rating for osteoarthritis of the left shoulder was also denied as there is no evidence showing that the condition has worsened beyond what is expected with normal aging.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been granted service connection and a TTR for convalescence following left shoulder surgery. The initial evaluation for the left ankle sprain with instability remains pending.,Service connection for the right shoulder disability is established, but an increased rating for the left ankle disability is still under consideration.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of hypercholesterolemia, cough, and right otoalgia. The Board also found that he does not have a vision disability or knots on the ankles and heels related to service. He was also unable to establish entitlement to sleep apnea, hand pain, shoulder pain, or ankle pain as being due to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left foot and/or ankle disorder, which he claims was incurred during his military service. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for aching in hips, knees, and ankles, and concluded that there was no current disability related to these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic disabilities in her arms and hands, as well as joint pain in her shoulders, neck, legs, feet, and ankles, finding that these conditions are not related to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left shoulder disorder, low back disorder, left hip disorder, and left ankle disorder due to the combat presumption. Service connection for a digestive disorder is also granted. Lung disorder was not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's arthritis of the left ankle is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right great toe disability. His initial 10 percent rating for hallux rigidus/valgus with arthritis and bunion of the right first metatarsal joint remains unchanged.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated as 10 percent disabling, his right and left knee disabilities are each rated as 10 percent disabling, and his left ankle disability prior to August 6, 2010, was also rated as 10 percent disabling. After that date, the disability was rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for right ankle and low back disabilities. The Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus, hypertension, left ankle and knee disorders, a low back disorder, and obesity. The denial is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is manifested by pain, instability, and lack of mobility. The Board has determined that a 20 percent rating is warranted to compensate for the functional loss associated with these symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran sustained a left ankle injury during service and now has a chronic left ankle disability. The right ankle disability is considered to be secondary to the left ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred in service. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of marked limitation of motion in the left ankle, and thus no higher evaluation was warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating for her right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim to reopen his left knee disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left ankle disorder and lower gastrointestinal bleeding disorder has been denied.,The Veteran's appeals for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right patellofemoral pain syndrome and left patellofemoral pain syndrome have also been denied.

The Veteran's left-sided facial nerve damage and neurological disability are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.