Ankle decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right elbow disability and service connection for traumatic arthritis of the knees, ankles, and back. The right elbow disorder is rated at 20 percent disabling under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for mechanical low back pain and degenerative joint disease of the left knee were not well-grounded, as there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his period of active military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of cellulitis is well grounded, and therefore grants the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the left ankle and arthritis of the right ankle with osteochondritis dissecans of the talus are well-grounded. The veteran served in Vietnam, and his medical records indicate he sustained injuries to both ankles during active duty. Service connection is granted as the conditions are deemed to be related to his service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for defective hearing in the left ear, sinusitis, and fractures of the left knee. The claim for increased evaluation for residuals of fracture of the proximal left tibia is granted with a 10% rating, while the claim for increased evaluation for residuals of fracture of the left ankle is also granted with a 10% rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of ankle sprains is not well grounded. The Board has granted a 10% rating for the veteran's thoracic spine injury, but finds no evidence to support an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and an increased rating for cervical strain with HNP at C5-6, both effective from February 1995.

The Board denied an increased rating for the service-connected right ankle disability, currently evaluated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded, and thus denied. The appeals were based on various conditions including right shoulder disorder, ear infections (manifested), tinnitus, right hip disorder, PTSD, left ankle disorder, left knee disorder, and gout.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle disability warrants a 30% evaluation, as his symptoms more nearly approximate marked ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for left foot, left ankle, and right ankle disorders are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the left ankle disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an ear disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disorder, left shoulder disorder, and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as schizophrenia) are not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right foot or ankle disability, and therefore service connection for residuals of a right foot/ankle injury is denied. The veteran's low back disability remains evaluated at 20 percent.

The Board denied increased evaluations for COPD and recurrent bilateral ankle sprain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, low back disability, and right ankle disability due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current right and left knee disabilities are of service onset and related to his in-service injuries, warranting a grant of service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a right ankle injury do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, finding that the evidence did not support higher evaluations or a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left ankle disorder is not service-connected, but his post-operative left inguinal hernia residuals are rated at 10 percent.