Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's left ankle disability was rated at 20% since June 10, 2010. The rating is based on moderate limitation of motion due to pain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including examinations and the provision of outstanding medical records.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability due to the claimed bilateral ankle injuries and denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, effective May 23, 2007. The right knee and left knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent, effective September 24, 2007. The lumbar spine disability remains rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he requested the matter be withdrawn and his claims file returned to the RO.

The VA has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities and lumbar spine disability but denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining records and conducting examinations. The issues of service connection for various disorders are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the severity of his right foot and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 30 percent under the criteria for impairment of tibia and fibula, with marked ankle disability without ankylosis.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum under Diagnostic Code 5271 for limited motion of the ankle. The Board found no evidence to support a higher rating based on functional loss or ankylosis. Service connection was granted for sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for hearing loss and right ankle disability, finding that the evidence did not warrant such ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a left ankle disability, enlarged testicles, and an enlarged prostate. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left fibula fracture and ankle dislocation are productive of marked limitation of ankle motion, warranting a 20 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected low back strain, right ankle strain, scar of the left index finger, and recurrent idiopathic polycyclic urticaria.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle disability and remanded the underlying claims for further development. The Veteran is currently assessed as having collapsing pes valgoplanus deformity with posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, claimed as disability of the ankles, attributable to his service-connected disabilities of the feet. A VA examination is necessary to decide these claims.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was not incurred in or related to his service. The skin disorder and respiratory disorder claims are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for a right ankle disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right foot injury with triple arthrodesis and ankle fusion have been rated at the maximum schedular rating (40 percent) available for this disability. The Board finds that no higher rating is warranted as his symptoms do not more closely approximate those required for any other specific rating criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss in his left ear is likely due to military service, and granted service connection for this condition. For his left ankle disability, the Board determined there was no evidence of a compensable degree of arthritis within one year post-service, and thus denied service connection.

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