Ankle decisions — 2001

The Board has granted increased ratings for gouty arthritis, hypertension, and prostatitis. The effective date for the PTSD disability rating increase to 100% is set at May 21, 1991.

The veteran's service-connected shell fragment wounds of the right posterior mid thigh, left posterior thigh, and right lateral malleolus with loss of dorsiflexion (right ankle) have been granted increased disability ratings.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's residuals of a bimalleolar fracture of the right ankle, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5270. The arthritis of the right ankle also warrants a 40 percent rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury, defective vision, dermatitis, and arthritis of the cervical spine and shoulders. The RO found that the veteran's defective vision was not related to his active service due to it being a congenital or developmental abnormality.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left elbow disorder or right ankle disorder, and there is no evidence of such disorders during service. The claim for service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence. It is found that his pre-existing bilateral pes planus was aggravated in service, warranting service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for post-operative left ankle disability and a compensable rating for his left varicocele, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the severity of his disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a right ankle disability are granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left ankle sprain due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee and assigned a 10 percent rating for residuals of a fracture of the right ankle.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination. The case will be reviewed again after these are obtained.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation and earlier effective date for his service-connected right ankle disability have been denied. The RO has assigned a 20 percent evaluation, effective May 13, 1998.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left and right ankle disorders, as they are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and traumatic arthritis of the left ankle, as well as her requests for service connection for a right hip arthroscopy and earlier effective dates. The decision also noted that she did not file timely appeals for these issues.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and extensions of temporary total convalescent ratings for his back and right ankle disabilities, finding that there is no medical evidence demonstrating severe post-operative residuals warranting additional convalescence beyond October 31, 1998 and October 31, 1999.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and compensable ratings were denied. The RO granted service connection for residuals of a fracture of the mid portion of the left ulna and olecranon process, impairment of the seventh cranial nerve, laceration scar of the upper scalp, and trichiasis of the left lower eyelid with noncompensable ratings assigned.

The veteran's right knee disorder and left hip disorder have been granted service connection with noncompensable evaluations since August 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left ankle disorder does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for special monthly pension benefits due to a lack of evidence showing that he requires regular aid and attendance or is substantially confined to his dwelling.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and right ankle sprain were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the bilateral hearing loss prior to June 10, 1999 or a rating in excess of 40 percent as of June 10, 1999. For PTSD and right ankle sprain, the RO found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.