Ankle decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, residuals of a right ankle sprain, hypertension, and disability manifested by left arm and left leg weakness. The appeals were based on direct evidence from service records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a left foot disorder is not well grounded. The Board also found that the veteran is entitled to a 20% disability evaluation for his residuals of a right ankle sprain, effective March 26, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right ankle strain did not cause or contribute to his death from COPD. The claim is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current right knee and right ankle disorders were not incurred during active service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a direct service connection for the veteran's left foot, ankle, and low back disorders. The claims were denied as not well grounded.

The Board found no current disabilities related to the veteran's claimed low back and right ankle injuries, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for ankle and knee pain, low back pain, great toe injuries, and a heart disorder are not well-grounded because there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his periods of active duty.

The veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss are not well grounded. The claim for recurrent left ankle sprain is well grounded, but further development is needed to determine if service connection can be established. Claims for sinus disorder and joint/muscle pain as due to an undiagnosed illness are not well grounded.

The Board denied all claims related to service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the ankles, knees, hips, and left arm; residuals of injury to the right upper arm; chronic bilateral ear infection; recurrent dislocation of the right (minor) shoulder disability; spurring of the lumbar spine with wedging of D-10; and traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine. The ratings for these conditions remain unchanged.

The Board finds that the veteran's right ankle disorder, including degenerative arthritis and chronic synovitis, is not related to his service-connected residuals of a burn to the right lower leg.

The Board denied a higher rating for the veteran's right ankle sprain and determined that no earlier effective date is warranted due to lack of evidence of intent to apply for service connection before January 15, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle disability, steatohepatitis, and skin disorder are not related to his period of active service. The veteran's claim for a left knee disability is granted with an effective date of March 23, 1993.

The veteran's fall at a VA medical facility did not result from any VA treatment or examination, and therefore does not qualify for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development and readjudication due to new evidence received from the veteran's treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and vocational rehabilitation file.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for compensable evaluations for his left and right ankle disabilities, as well as a claim for a 10 percent evaluation for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The case is remanded to ensure compliance with VA examination requirements.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine disability with right shoulder pain, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar strain. The reasons are that there is no competent medical evidence linking any current disabilities to his period of active service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left ankle condition is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain of the wrists, ankles, and right knee. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and found that the veteran's current left foot disability warrants a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's service-connected right knee disability to his claimed left knee and ankle disabilities, thus denying these claims.