Ankle decisions — 2000

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, and thus denied them. The VA also did not assign a disability rating or effective date as no evaluation was granted.

The veteran's left ankle disability is granted under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, but his claims for low back and bilateral hearing loss are denied as not well grounded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar disc disease is related to his service-connected right ankle fracture.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for low back disability and fungus of toenails are not well grounded. The claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder is well grounded.

The veteran's left ankle tendonitis and bursitis have been granted service connection with a 10% evaluation.,Service connection for reflux esophagitis has not been established.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints and lumbosacral strain was not well-grounded. The rating for lumbosacral strain was increased to 20 percent, effective July 1993.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and low back disorder. The RO found that there is no evidence to support these claims on a direct basis.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and bilateral hearing loss, as the additional evidence provided was either cumulative or redundant.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a well-grounded claim for bilateral hearing loss, dental condition, cervical spine condition, or arthritis of the right knee.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including headaches, PTSD, defective vision of the right eye, residuals of injury to the left arm, shoulder, and wrist with vein graft, fractures of the facial bones, and insect bite scar of the right hand. The appeals are all denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a disorder of the spine and granted it. The claims for service connection for disorders of the knees, ankles, arms, skin, and hypertension are denied as not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for his service-connected residuals of a left ankle sprain and gouty arthritis, finding no evidence of significant impairment or limitation of motion.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for multiple joint arthritis, hearing loss, cardiovascular disease including hypertension, hiatal hernia and depression were not well grounded. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or any other form of service connection.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is not well-grounded.,There is no evidence linking the veteran's current chronic fatigue syndrome to his military service or reported continuity of post-service symptomatology.,The veteran's allegation of hearing loss is not supported by medical evidence that would render plausible the claim concerning service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,Although the veteran has reported asbestos exposure in service, there is no medical evidence of asbestosis or any asbestos-related disorder.,Respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,The veteran's claim for flu-like symptoms involving the sinuses is not well-grounded.,Muscle aches in thighs and lower legs are not supported by medical evidence that would render plausible the claim concerning service connection for muscle aches resulting from an undiagnosed illness.,Eye symptoms are not supported by medical evidence that would render plausible the claim concerning service connection for eye symptoms resulting from an undiagnosed illness.,Stomach symptoms are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,Generalized joint pain and shaking are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,Fatigue as a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness is plausible, but the veteran has submitted some evidence supporting this claim.,The veteran's allegation of hearing loss related to an undiagnosed illness is not well-grounded.,Joint pain in ankles and hips are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,Joint pain in thumbs, fingers of both hands, wrists, elbows are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found that the appellant's complaints of aching joints, memory loss, fatigue, weight gain, and nausea and vomiting do not constitute well-grounded claims for service connection. The evidence did not present objective indications of chronic disability.

The Board has granted service connection for polyarthropy of the right ankle and foot, with limitation of right ankle joint motion, and plantar fasciitis of the right foot. The claim for chest pain is denied.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the appellant's current left knee, right knee, or left hip disabilities to his service-connected residuals of a left ankle fracture. Therefore, the claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle arthritis and a low back disability secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities are not well-grounded. The medical evidence does not support these claims.

The Board denied an increased rating for the service-connected residuals of a right ankle fracture, finding that the disability did not warrant a higher than 10 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence of a current disability and no link between the condition and service.