Ankle decisions — 2000

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional actions including a hearing, clarification of service connection issues, and investigation into the authenticity of submitted medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his claim for right orchitis and epididymitis, and denied increased ratings for bilateral high frequency hearing loss, myositis of the lumbar paravertebral muscles, and patella chondromalacia.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his right knee disability and service connection for a left knee and left ankle disorder. The total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is deferred at this time.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for psychiatric disability, denied service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury, denied increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine and bronchitis, and denied an increased rating for residuals of a fracture of the right wrist.

The veteran's service-connected right ankle disorder and residuals of fracture of the right radial head have been rated as noncompensable. The May 1998 VA examination showed mild degenerative joint disease in the right ankle, warranting a 10% evaluation for a painful right ankle joint. For the right elbow disability, there is no evidence of ankylosis or arthritis, and the veteran's range of motion was normal with some tenderness over the radial head.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for left ankle instability, postoperative, with osteochondritis dissecans of the left talus and a 10 percent evaluation for service-connected left patellar tendinitis.

The Board has found the claims for service connection for right ankle and low back disabilities to be well grounded. The veteran's current knee disability is currently evaluated as noncompensably disabling.

The veteran's disability, characterized by traumatic arthritis of the left ankle with limitation of motion and pain, has been granted a 10 percent rating.

The case is being remanded for a travel board hearing and further development.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection and evaluations for his claimed conditions, finding that there is no evidence of chronic disability caused by these conditions in service or currently.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for a left leg and ankle disorder is granted, with no specific rating assigned or effective date provided. The appeal was based on direct evidence from service records.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis and a bilateral ankle disability was granted. The decision also noted that new evidence submitted since the last denial supports these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his service-connected left ear hearing loss, psoriasis, and other disabilities. The veteran was not granted service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well grounded and denied them. The March 1996 rating decision assigning a 10% disability rating for bilateral pes planus was not clearly erroneous.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected left ankle disability was denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his left ankle sprain, left foot bunion, and right acromioclavicular separation.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral ankle disability, but found that the claims for service connection for bilateral leg and knee disabilities are not well grounded.

The Board found no current residual disabilities from the inservice injuries and denied service connection for the veteran's claimed right great toe, right ankle arthritis, and left ankle disability.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 10 percent for the adherent scar of the right leg, effective as of the date of the decision. Additionally, service connection was granted for a low back disorder, a right knee disorder and a right ankle disability on a secondary basis.

The veteran's appeal is about the service connection for generalized arthritis of his left ankle, knees, spine, and hands. The rating for residuals of a fracture of the right ankle remains unchanged.