Ankle decisions — 2000

The VA has determined that the veteran's right ankle and foot disability, which is rated as degenerative arthritis, does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development of the evidence, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of his shoulder and ankle disabilities, finding no well-grounded evidence to support these claims.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral pes planus to military service or his right ankle disorder. The claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and back conditions are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and an in-service disease or injury, nor can it be attributed to any service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, finding that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of his conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was not well grounded because there is no cognizable evidence showing that his claim is plausible or capable of substantiation.

The veteran's appeal was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for his right ankle disorder on the merits.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not meet the criteria for reopening the previously denied claims of service connection for low back disorder, right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, residuals of a left shoulder injury and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a 30 percent evaluation, effective from March 1998. The veteran is also entitled to a separate 10 percent evaluation for arthritis of the right knee. No increased evaluations are granted for his left ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle sprain and low back and neck disorders due to lack of evidence establishing a causal nexus between the current conditions and active service.,The veteran's claims regarding reopening her sinus disorder and joint popping and snapping claims were also denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 100 percent for the veteran's service-connected cardiovascular disability, effective from January 1993 to March 1, 1993. The ratings for arthritis of the cervical spine and thoracic spine remain at 10 percent each, while the rating for traumatic arthritis of the left ankle is maintained at 10 percent.

The Board denied the waiver of recovery of an overpayment of disability compensation benefits in the amount of $3,170 due to the veteran's fault in creating the overpayment. The decision also noted that collection would not violate principles of equity and good conscience.

The Board denied all issues related to the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a rating in excess of 20 percent for arthritis of the left ankle and compensable ratings for residuals of fractures and dislocation of the left ring finger and little fingers.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a chronic right ankle disability due to lack of evidence showing current diagnoses or service origin.

The veteran's right ankle disability, which includes strain and an exostosis, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has granted a 20% evaluation for the avulsion fracture of the right ankle and found that the fracture of the left maxilla warrants a non-compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's VA disability compensation is subject to recoupment of separation pay, and service connection for a deviated nasal septum is granted. The remaining issues are pending further review.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded and denied them.

The Board found that the veteran's current back condition is not related to her active service and denied her claim for service connection. The issue of a higher original evaluation for her left ankle sprain was also considered, but no rating assigned as it was an original evaluation.