Ankle decisions — 2000

The VA determined that there is no evidence linking the veteran's current left ankle disability to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since January 1991 did not provide a basis for finding service connection for right ankle and right knee disorders on a direct basis, as it was cumulative of previous evidence.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's right ankle avulsion fracture, effective from the date of his claim in 1989.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities, finding no competent evidence to support secondary service connection for right arm and elbow conditions. The right knee disability is rated as 30 percent disabling due to severe instability or lateral subluxation.

The Board has granted the veteran increased ratings for his service-connected residuals of a left ankle injury, but denied his claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and right fifth finger fractures.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded and have therefore been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of injuries to his right ankle, left elbow, right knee, and left shoulder, finding that these conditions are related to events in service.

The veteran's left knee and ankle disabilities have been rated, with the left knee receiving a 20% rating effective from December 1, 1995. The left ankle disability remains at a 10% rating since February 24, 1994.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. The RO must obtain all outstanding medical records from the Buffalo VAMC before considering these claims on their merits.

The Board finds that the veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, secondary to his service-connected chronic left ankle sprain, is not well-grounded and thus denied.

The veteran's service-connected right lower extremity disability, including osteoarthritis of the right knee and traumatic arthritis of the right ankle, is currently rated at 20 percent disabling.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder, PTSD, and a respiratory disorder are not well grounded. The claim for increased evaluation of arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right ankle/shin injury. The claim is not well-grounded as there is no competent medical evidence showing current disability or a link between the in-service injury and the current condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his knee disabilities are denied. His ankle disability claim is not well-grounded, while his right knee disability warrants a 20 percent rating since July 29, 1994, but no higher.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for varicose veins of the left leg with recurrent stasis ulcer was granted, and a rating of 40 percent has been in effect since September 13, 1996.

The VA denied service connection for a right ankle fracture and did not assign a compensable rating for residuals of a left ankle fracture.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury due to lack of competent medical evidence showing current disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle pain and diarrhea, as due to an undiagnosed illness, are not well grounded.

The case is being remanded for a video conference hearing with the appellant and a Member of the Board. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has determined that the evidence submitted does not meet the criteria for reopening the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and ankle disorders, as there is no new and material evidence presented.