Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's right ankle surgery necessitated a temporary total disability evaluation from April 12, 2005 to February 8, 2006 due to convalescence. The extension was granted based on the need for continued immobilization of her right ankle.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional private medical records and for further development.

The Veteran's right ankle osteoarthritis with nonunion of the talus was initially granted a 10% disability rating prior to April 15, 2009. From April 15, 2009, he is now rated at 20%. The maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5271 for marked limitation of ankle motion has been assigned.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic left knee and ankle disorders, as well as an increased rating for his right knee disability. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records.

The Board has denied service connection for right wrist, right knee and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of competent evidence showing current disability or in-service injury. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also pending.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his thoracic spine disability was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted. His right ankle disability is rated at 40 percent, with no higher rating allowed under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has caused marked interference with employment, warranting an extraschedular rating of 40 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right ankle. The appeal regarding service connection for a right hip disability is being remanded due to failure to comply with previous remand orders.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it is a result of noise exposure during his active duty as a helicopter pilot. The back disorder and gout are also service-connected, with the latter being linked to active duty service. The initial rating for ingrown toenail remains noncompensable.

The Board found no evidence of a low back condition during service and denied the Veteran's claims for bilateral hand and wrist disability and bilateral ankle disability due to lack of continuity of symptoms after service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and right ankle disability. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher initial rating for PTSD before April 20, 2004.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle fracture, right knee chondromalacia, and left knee chondromalacia were denied as the evidence did not show more than moderate limitation of motion or additional functional loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's stomach disability, to include acid stomach reflux, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of September 24, 2003 for service connection of PTSD and a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current disabilities to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (GERD) was denied. The Board also found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claim for service connection for joint pain of the hips, low back, ankles, shoulder, and neck.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and right ankle disability as there was no evidence of a current disability or nexus to service.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected major depression and related conditions, which were contributory causes of his death. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his untimely death.