Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disorder is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee disability, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted, with a current rating of 20 percent effective as of March 17, 2009. The claims for increased ratings for chronic capsulitis of the left knee and left ankle were denied. TDIU is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and has therefore remanded the case for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with osteoarthritis of both feet and ankles is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating for this condition.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, and his low back disability is rated at 20 percent prior to November 22, 1999, and 40 percent from that date. The appeal for higher ratings remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and his right ankle disability is not related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO provided the Veteran with multiple opportunities to submit evidence, but he failed to appear at scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral foot disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and low back disorder. The claim for a right shoulder disorder was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and issuing a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding his left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle was granted, but no new or material evidence was presented to reopen the claim. The current disability is manifested by pain and arthritis without limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability, characterized as residuals of osteochondral lesion, does not warrant a compensable rating based on its current manifestations.

The Board has denied all service connection claims, finding no evidence of chronic disabilities in service or for many years thereafter. The Veteran's lay statements regarding inservice incidents are not sufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for marked limitation of motion. The appeal has been denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee and ankle disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a broken collar bone, acid reflux, bilateral ankle disability, cellulitis, bowel disorder, migraines, kidney failure, hiatal hernia, and bilateral pes planus. The issues have been remanded to issue an SOC.

The Veteran's bilateral traumatic arthritis of the ankles, right ankle fracture with traumatic arthritis, and left ankle sprain with traumatic arthritis have been rated as 10 percent each since October 16, 1989. The Veteran is entitled to a higher rating for his right ankle condition from November 8, 1999; and, in excess of 20 percent from August 4, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional service treatment records and a supplemental medical opinion regarding whether the appellant's current left ankle disability is related to his INACDUTRA service in July 1962.