Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of right ankle disorder, residuals of scalp laceration, or right foot disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and treatment records from Dr. W. and Dr. T.

The Board granted a 20 percent evaluation for the service-connected right ankle disability, finding that it met the criteria for marked limitation of motion. The claim for service connection for headaches was also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service records and incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if there is a causal nexus between the Veteran's active military service and his current residuals of a right wrist injury and right ankle disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability warrants a rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected due to a credible account of personal assault. The left wrist disorder and right wrist disorder are not service-connected as there is no evidence linking them to military service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left ankle disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, with a separate rating of 10 percent for heel spurs. The appeal is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, bilateral ankle condition, and bilateral knee condition as secondary to gout due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his active service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for left calf and ankle disabilities secondary to his service-connected residuals of a left foot stress fracture. The case is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for DDD of the lumbosacral spine was denied, and his claim for an earlier effective date for service connection remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and a left ankle disability due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated as 20% disabling, but the Board finds no basis for a higher rating. The Veteran does not have service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease, disc desiccation, and bulging disc due to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle fracture residuals are related to his period of active service and is granting service connection for this condition. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and major depressive disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's right ankle and foot disabilities are evaluated at a 10 percent rating each. The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle disability does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, but his right metatarsalphalangeal joint disability is now rated separately at 10 percent.

The Veteran's left ankle and foot pain are due to Charcot changes, which is service-connected. The bilateral hip disorder is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after service discharge.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative osteoarthritis of the left ankle and tarsal tunnel syndrome of the left foot have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each, effective March 30, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability is not related to active military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current symptoms, including pain and need for a cane, were not due to carelessness or negligence on the part of VA during his left ankle surgery. The preexisting nerve entrapment condition was deemed unrelated to the surgical treatment.