Ankle decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are well grounded, and to this extent, the appeals are granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims but found them not well grounded. The evidence does not establish current disabilities or a link to service for all claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, residuals of fractures of the left tibia and fibula with left ankle dislocation, residuals of a fractured left femur, and residuals of a fractured nose are not well grounded. The claim for compensation for malaria is denied. The veteran's residuals of fractures of the left tibia and fibula with left ankle dislocation have been rated as 30% disabling under Diagnostic Code 5262.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral knee or ankle disorder related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle condition, including his right tibialis anterior tendinitis, warrants a 10 percent disability rating. The current evaluation is based on moderate limitation of motion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings, secondary service connection, and a total compensation rating based on individual unemployability. The left ankle disability was rated at 30 percent, but no higher. The back and right knee disabilities were not found to be related to the service-connected left ankle condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are well-grounded and have proceeded to a decision on their merits. Service connection is granted for arthritis of the hands, but denied for disorders of the ankles, legs, and knees, avitaminosis, gastrointestinal disorder (including a stomach condition), irritable bladder, and PTSD.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 27, 1993, for service connection for the residuals of right ankle sprains is denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his right ankle disability is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current ankle disabilities and his military service, including Operation Desert Storm. The claim is denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected right ankle disability does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board finds that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, low back disability and left wrist disability are not well grounded. The claim for an increased rating for post-traumatic tendonitis of the right shoulder is well grounded.

The case is being remanded to the Regional Office due to requests for a Travel Board hearing and other procedural issues.

The Board has granted service connection for a disability of the ankles and feet manifested by dependent edema as secondary to the veteran's service-connected knee disability. The claims for obesity and hypertension are denied.

The Board denied an extension of a temporary total rating for the veteran's service-connected right ankle disability beyond March 31, 1997.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of right ankle injury, right shoulder injury, and tinnitus. The skin disorder claim is not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current right ankle disability to his service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for a left ankle disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and head injury are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board is unable to decide the well-grounded nature of the veteran's claims due to incomplete evidence and requests for additional records. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle arthritis is related to his in-service injury, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for poor circulation in both legs is not well-grounded as there is no competent evidence linking it to service. The claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus is also not well-grounded due to the preexisting nature of the disorder.