Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disorder, hearing loss in the right ear, and tinnitus. Hearing loss in the left ear is not considered a disability under VA criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral feet and ankle problems are related to injuries sustained during service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran is found to be unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, which include degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right ankle fusion, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, and other conditions. The TDIU has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and needs further examination for service connection of left ankle, knee, back, and cervical spine disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a right or left ankle disorder attributable to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a mild disc bulge and posterior ligamentous hypertrophy at L4-L5 and a mild disc bulge at L5-S1, as well as right ankle arthralgia, both of which are considered to be related to the Veteran's in-service injuries.

The Veteran's service-connected benign osteochondroma of the right ischium and right ankle sprain are not rated higher than noncompensable, as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other disabling conditions that would warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle disability is not related to his service, and denied all claims on appeal.

The Veteran's left ankle and foot disabilities have not been found to be service-connected. The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left ankle disability, and his claim for secondary service connection for a left foot disability is granted as it is related to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a left ankle disorder and thus, the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 22, 2004, for service connection of a left ankle disability. The effective date is set at September 22, 2004.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for residuals of umbilical hernia repair, as the Veteran had a pre-existing condition at entry into service and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut this presumption. The other two issues regarding right ankle and knee injuries are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a right ankle disability, rhinitis, left inguinal hernia, and epigastric hernia. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for the appellant's claimed disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with ankle instability is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions of arthritis of the right arm, wrist, ankle, and back injury residuals are not service-connected as they did not develop or permanently increase in severity during any period of service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, including a personality disorder, is not related to his active service. The right ankle sprain was also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's left ankle musculoligamentous strain is likely related to his military service, and the Board finds that he has a chronic left ankle disability. The Veteran also has residuals of cold injury of the hands and fingers, but further examination is needed to determine if these are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of burn to left hand and residuals of right ankle sprain are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.