Ankle decisions — 2000

The Board found the claim not well grounded and denied service connection for a left ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for higher ratings for her lower back disorder and left ankle disorder are not supported by the evidence of record, and therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to a temporary total rating for his right ankle disability beyond February 4, 1998 and denied entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent disabling for post-operative residuals of right ankle fusion.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability (other than left TOS) and the propriety of initial noncompensable rating for postoperative residuals of a right knee laceration, but granted an increased 20 percent rating for left thoracic outlet syndrome.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for residuals of right inguinal hernia repair, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, back injury, and head injury. The claim for service connection for bilateral knee disorder was reopened due to new evidence submitted by the appellant.

The veteran's service-connected right knee disability is claimed to have caused his fractures of the right tibia and left ankle in February 1983. The new evidence supports this claim, but does not establish that these conditions are directly related to the service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed disabilities, including a bilateral ankle disability, head injury, right arm condition, headaches, and bilateral knee condition. The claims were not well-grounded due to lack of current diagnosis.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service-connected compensation for residuals of a right ankle injury was denied as there is no legal basis to grant such a request.

The Board finds that there is not a reasonable possibility of valid claims concerning the veteran's claimed disabilities, including hypothyroidism, hemorrhoids, bilateral eye disability, bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, asthma, low back disability, hypoglycemia, bilateral hand and ankle disabilities, gastrointestinal disability, acquired cognitive disorder, lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and residuals of Epstein-Barr virus infection. These conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has restored the veteran's rating for his service-connected right ankle fracture from 20 percent to 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot and ankle disabilities are denied. The evidence does not support a finding of direct or secondary service connection.

The veteran's application for Supplemental Service Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (SRH) was denied because it was not received within one year of the date he was notified of his entitlement to a waiver of premiums on his RH insurance policy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence supporting the claimed conditions.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the service-connected left ankle injury residuals, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 100 percent disabling, and his right ankle disability is rated at the maximum compensable rating. The veteran is granted a total rating for compensation on the basis of individual unemployability due to multiple disabilities.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left ankle disability is denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of fractures of the left tibia and fibula was denied, as his condition did not warrant a higher rating than 30 percent. A separate 10 percent rating was assigned for osteoarthritis of the left ankle with limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disorder, left ankle disorder, and thoracolumbar disorder (back strain) are not well-grounded. The evidence does not establish current disabilities or a link between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are not well-grounded. The right knee disability is denied due to lack of evidence linking current symptoms to service, while the right foot and ankle disabilities do not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation.