Ankle decisions — 2000

The Board found that the veteran's claim was well-grounded and granted service connection for residuals of a right ankle fracture, attributing it to an in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a left ankle disorder are not well-grounded, as there is no medical evidence establishing a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence to show that the veteran's right ankle disability worsened as a result of treatment or surgery at a VA facility, and thus denied his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for various disorders are not well grounded, as there is no medical evidence showing current diagnoses or a link to service.

The VA determined that the appellant's claims for service connection were not well-grounded due to lack of evidence showing a pre-existing condition aggravated by military service.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected left ankle disorder, finding that the current evaluation of 20 percent adequately reflects his symptoms and functional limitations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, gastroenteritis, right ankle disorder, and vaginitis are well-grounded. The claim for tuberculosis is not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle disorder warrants a 20 percent disability evaluation on and after December 2, 1997. The effective date remains pending as it is not specified in this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that they were not well-grounded and thus not supported by competent evidence showing a relationship to service.

The Board found that the veteran did not submit competent evidence to show plausible claims for service connection for a right elbow disability, a right shoulder disability, a right ankle disability, a low back disability, and a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence submitted. However, it was determined that these multiple orthopedic disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted, with the exception of residuals of fractures of the transverse processes of L2 and L3 which are rated at 20 percent.

The Board granted an increased evaluation of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture of the left tibia and fibula with laceration, effective from November 14, 1997. The Board also determined that the effective date should be October 31, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied as there is no evidence to support a finding of an injury sustained during VA hospitalization resulting in additional disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gallstones, status post cholecystectomy and a bilateral ankle disorder, other than bilateral ankle arthralgia.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle condition, bilateral knee condition, back condition, and alopecia were all denied. The RO found no current evidence of these conditions related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic bilateral ankle disability is not well-grounded and therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, respiratory disorder to include asthma, bilateral foot disorder to include bone spurs of the heels, and bilateral ankle disability. Service connection was denied for right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right knee condition, and headaches.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

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