Ankle decisions — 2000

The Board has denied the reopening of claims for service connection for traumatic arthritis of the right ankle and low back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of low back pain secondary to his left ankle disability and a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of his left ankle fracture with dislocation and fusion. The veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent disabling.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, finding that his back disability was not related to service. The left knee and right ankle injuries were also found unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for left foot and ankle disabilities, but not for migraine headaches. The veteran's claims are still pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, as the evidence does not show that he is unable to work solely because of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen her claim for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left ankle disability, finding that the current evaluation of 20 percent adequately reflects the limitation of motion and functional impairment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims.

The veteran's PTSD and residuals of a left ankle fracture are rated at the maximum available. The chronic neck strain is granted with a 10 percent rating, but no increase in evaluation is granted. Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is not addressed.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss is the result of acoustic trauma during service and has been granted service connection. The left ankle disorder and skin cancer with a benign mole in the preauricular area are not found to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tendonitis of the right ankle, plantar wart of the right foot, and degenerative arthritis of the right great toe. The veteran is currently rated at a 10 percent evaluation for each condition.

The Board has granted service connection for IBS and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, and bilateral eye disability. The veteran's IBS is found to have its onset during service, while there is no evidence of hearing loss or other disabilities in question within the VA-defined criteria.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected left ankle disability, which is currently evaluated at 40 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased rating of bilateral pes planus and service connection for back disorder and bilateral thigh disorder were denied. The decision is based on the current evidence not meeting the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for a right ankle condition and an increased rating for service-connected pes planus. The veteran's claims will be reviewed on their merits, with all relevant medical records obtained.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frozen feet and a right ankle disorder, as new and material evidence was submitted.,The veteran is entitled to an increased evaluation for his left ankle disorder.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for right medial hamstring tendinitis/bursitis, status post arthroscopy is denied as her disability does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.,The veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than September 6, 1996, for the grant of compensable ratings for right medial hamstring tendinitis/bursitis, status post arthroscopy and lateral ligamentous reconstruction of the right ankle are denied as there is no evidence of a claim prior to that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring an automobile or other conveyance and specially adaptive equipment, as well as financial assistance in purchasing special adaptive housing. The appeals were dismissed due to the Court's remand order.

The veteran's cystic acne and right ankle sprains have been granted increased evaluations, while service connection for a right shoulder contusion secondary to recurrent right ankle sprains has also been established.

The veteran's left knee and right ankle disabilities are rated at their maximum allowable levels, with the left knee receiving a higher rating due to its more severe symptoms.