Ankle decisions — 2000

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches with history of concussion are granted. The claim for chronic swelling of the ankles is denied.

The Board has found that the veteran's claims for service connection are well-grounded and have granted them. The veteran is entitled to service connection for acne vulgaris, a right knee disorder, a left ankle disorder, tinnitus, and periodontal disease (for treatment purposes).

The Board has decided the issue of service connection for a disability manifested by leg pain. The claim is not well grounded and thus denied. The issue of an increased evaluation for hypertension, initially granted at 10 percent, is remanded due to new evidence and possible changes in medication.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a right ankle disorder, left foot disorder, and neck mass due to lack of well-grounded evidence.

The Board denied claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, hands, and ankles, as well as a claim for an increased rating for rheumatoid arthritis of the right little finger. The veteran's arthritis is found to be due to his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and compensable evaluations for his left knee, second metacarpal, thumb, and ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The veteran was also not granted a compensable evaluation for his left ankle disability.

The veteran's combined disability evaluation for his service-connected disabilities was granted at 60 percent prior to January 27, 1999. The Board found that the correct combined evaluation at the time in question was 60 percent and denied a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran is eligible for payment of attorney fees from past-due benefits resulting from the grant of increased compensation for shell fragment wounds of the right thigh, right ankle, and left thigh. The effective date is February 17, 2000.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for increased rate of dependency and indemnity compensation based upon a demonstrated need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to lack of evidence showing she requires regular aid and attendance or is permanently housebound.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disorders are well grounded. The issues of rating greater than 10 percent disabling for herniated disc at L5-S1 and residuals of a right knee injury have been granted.

The veteran's current arthritis of the hips, knees, right ankle, elbows and shoulders is due to service-connected shrapnel wounds. The claim for service connection has been granted.

The veteran's service-connected acute compartment syndrome of the right leg with ankle disability is manifested by profound weakness with foot drop, inability to dorsiflex the right foot and markedly reduced plantar flexion. There are indications of numbness in the distribution of the right peroneal nerve all the way to the toes. The Board finds that these symptoms more nearly approximate a 40 percent rating for complete paralysis under Diagnostic Code 8521.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and right ankle disorders. The claim for a compensable evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the right wrist was also denied. Additionally, the effective dates for the grants of service connection for hypertension and residuals of a fracture of the right wrist were not established.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back injury and sensory changes of the right tibial nerve, contributed to his cause of death from an acute myocardial infarction.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, a bilateral ankle disorder, and a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left shoulder, right ankle sprains, and residuals of left ankle sprains have been denied. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle injury and low back condition are not well grounded. There is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected low back strain, right forearm gunshot wound, and right ankle disorder was granted. The rating for the left ankle condition remains at 10 percent. Hallux valgus deformity of both feet is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is well grounded. The veteran's stressors during his Gulf War service are supported by evidence, and a VA examination will be arranged to determine if he meets the criteria for PTSD.

The veteran's claims for major depression and anxiety, PTSD, and low back condition are denied as they do not meet the criteria for well-groundedness. The claim for arthritis of the left foot and ankle is also denied.,PTSD was supported by medical evidence linking it to service-related stressors.