Ankle Board decisions

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left ankle disabilities are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's residuals of fracture, right anterior superior calcaneus are rated at 10 percent prior to August 1, 2017.,Effective May 3, 2016, the Veteran is entitled to a separate rating of 10 percent for Achilles tendonitis affecting his right ankle.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, thus his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his left ankle disability does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.,His sleep apnea, PTSD-related, and bilateral hip/knee disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, thyroid disorder, cirrhosis of the liver, and esophageal varices are all remanded for further development. The issues include service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's sciatica of the left leg is rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), a left ankle disability, and a right leg disability (including right knee and right hip) are remanded due to incomplete information in the Veteran's service records.,The Veteran's left ankle disability and right leg disability (including right knee and right hip) remain unresolved as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to bilateral hearing loss at any time during the course of the appeal or approximate thereto, and thus cannot establish an essential element of the service connection claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and right shoulder conditions, as secondary to his service-connected left ankle and left shoulder disabilities. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability ratings for bilateral ankle fractures prior to January 30, 2017 were denied. From January 30, 2017, a rating in excess of 10 percent for the right ankle and a 20 percent rating for the left ankle was granted.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension has been newly granted. The claims for increased ratings of right ankle strain and left knee degenerative arthritis are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left ankle and foot disabilities, as well as her bilateral hearing loss disability, are related to service. However, due to insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to service, a remand is necessary for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities in the knees, shoulders, or BTM, nor any nexus to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee condition.,Service connection for COPD and asthma is granted, with the Board finding that these conditions are related to in-service exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right ankle disability are granted service connection. Service connection for a bilateral knee disability is denied, but the Veteran's back disability is remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder strain but denied service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for traumatic brain injury, back disability, bilateral ankle disability, vertigo (claimed as dizziness), and respiratory condition are all denied.,There is no current evidence of a TBI or any other claimed disabilities during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment outside of a protected work environment, thus qualifying for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, hypertension, bladder disorder (including yeast infection), left ankle strain, and sinus disorder due to new and material evidence. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received for the claims of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis of bilateral upper extremities, and osteoarthritis of bilateral lower extremities. The claims are therefore reopened. Further evaluation is needed to determine if these conditions are related to active service.