Ankle decisions — 2000

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disorder and acne, but denied the claim for ligament damage of the left ankle. The veteran's acne is rated at 10% from August 4, 1998, to present, while his left shoulder disorder remains at 0%. His left ankle condition continues to be rated at 0%.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence of current disability associated with the appellant's left knee, left ankle or bilateral elbow disorders. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The hearing officer found that the veteran did not submit well-grounded claims for his right knee and left knee disorders.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities as not well grounded.,For his left knee disability, the claim is also denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking current right ankle or right knee disabilities to service-connected left knee instability or arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and an initial compensable rating for status post right ovarian cystectomy and right linear salpingostomy, finding her claims not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle disability warrants a 20 percent rating, but not an increased rating. The claim for service connection of a right foot condition is well grounded and will be addressed further.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence showing current disability attributable to service for stress fractures of the ankles, hips, or knees. Therefore, the veteran's claims are denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with a rating of 30 percent assigned for the period prior to February 6, 1999, and an additional 10 percent for the scar associated with the right ankle. The claim for traumatic neuropathy of the left sural nerve was not timely filed.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for asthma and found no basis to grant a higher rating. The veteran's shrapnel wounds have been rated as non-compensable.

The veteran's left ankle sprain is related to his period of active military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral foot and ankle disorder, including pes planus and arthritis, was not well-grounded. The appeal was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition and a right knee condition are not well-grounded due to lack of medical evidence of current disabilities.

The veteran's chronic vasomotor rhinitis with sinusitis and nasal polyposis is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from September 1993. The left ankle strain with arthritic changes was increased to 20 percent from June 18, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disability, and right knee disability. The decision also found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities include multiple injuries from shrapnel wounds and other conditions. The RO denied his claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to these disabilities, citing the veteran's employment history and vocational rehabilitation status. The case is being remanded for further examination and review.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a left ankle disability was denied as the earliest possible effective date is April 30, 1998.

The veteran's service connection claims for bilateral eye disability, elevated cholesterol, tuberculosis, right foot and ankle disabilities, and postoperative deviated nasal septum have been granted. The rating assigned is 10 percent for arthritis of the right wrist.

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

The veteran's low back disorder is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, effective from May 4, 1995. Service connection has been granted for PTSD and seizure disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and headaches, but denied service connection for residuals of a head injury and left ankle fracture due to lack of medical evidence linking the current conditions to service.