Ankle decisions — 2000

The Board found that the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and right knee disabilities were not well grounded due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of a low back disability. The right ankle disability rating remains pending as there is no clear indication of whether it should be granted, denied, or remanded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is not well-grounded and denied it. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of oral surgery performed in June 1990 was also denied.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development of medical records and readjudication.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal because his substantive appeal was not timely filed.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder due to new evidence submitted since the December 1993 RO denial. However, the claim remains denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking the current left ankle disorder to service.

The Board has granted a 10% rating for the veteran's left ankle disorder, finding that it is primarily manifested by some crepitus and pain with fatigability producing moderate impairment.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left ankle disability was denied because he failed to appear for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen claims for service connection of right shoulder, knee, and ankle disorders. However, it determined that the submitted evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening claims for service connection of right knee and right ankle disorders.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further examination and development of the claim, including obtaining medical records and arranging for an orthopedic and neurologic examination.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral knee disability, secondary to service-connected pes planus. The claims for low back, bilateral hip, and bilateral ankle disabilities remain pending.

The Board has determined that the current 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's right ankle disability is proper, as motion of the right ankle does not exceed moderately impaired.

The Board has denied all claims for increased evaluations, finding that the veteran's conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on current evidence of record.

The veteran's disabilities, while disabling, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes due to their combined effect on his ability to work.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for multiple conditions, including a fracture of the right great toe, a disorder of the right leg and ankle, arthritis of the hands and feet, hearing loss, and tinnitus, are not well-grounded.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the veteran's left leg disability, effective September 12, 1991. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities in either right or left ankles, and thus denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for various conditions, including an injury to the xiphoid with tenderness, a deviated nasal septum, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, decreased grip strength due to an injury to the right thumb, residuals of a skull injury, bilateral ankle/foot disabilities, and hepatitis. The claims are denied as not well grounded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, varicose veins, and bilateral hearing loss are not well grounded as there is no medical evidence of current disabilities.