Ankle decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle disability, which includes a fracture with arthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent and does not warrant an increased evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle, leg, knee and hip disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected left ankle disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the current 10 percent assigned.

The Board has determined that the appellant's residuals of a fracture of the left clavicle warrant a 20 percent disability rating.,For the period from January 16, 1995 through October 31, 2000, the appellant's residuals of a fracture of the left femur with left hip involvement and left leg shortening and scars of the left hip are rated at 20 percent. After November 1, 2000, they are rated at 10 percent.,For the period from January 16, 1995 through October 31, 2000, the appellant's residuals of a fracture of the left tibia and fibula with ankle involvement are rated at 20 percent. After November 1, 2000, they are rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted, as his PTSD and other service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any residuals of a claimed injury to his ankles during service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and a back disability, finding no current evidence of such disabilities related to his period of active service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining suitable employment in his chosen field of Information Technology. The Board finds no employment handicap and thus denies the claim for vocational rehabilitation training.

The veteran's appeal was denied for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues of service connection for degenerative disk changes of the lumbar spine, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right hip disorder, and right ankle disorder were also denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including residuals of right ankle exostosectomy, arthritis of the right wrist, paresthesia of left ulnar nerve, and fracture of the right 5th metatarsal, are currently rated at their maximum schedular evaluations. The RO denied increased evaluations for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The conditions addressed include residuals of injuries to the right hip and leg, left ankle fracture, right knee injury, left zygomatic fracture, and chronic low back syndrome with sciatica.

The Board has determined that the residuals of a left ankle fusion meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right ear hearing loss and assigned a rating of 10 percent. The left foot disability, bilateral ankle gout, and right ear hearing loss are all considered direct service connections.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for the service connected fracture of the left tibia and fibula, with arthritis of the left ankle is granted. Service connection for arthritis of the left knee is also granted. A compensable rating for a scar related to the fracture of the left tibia and fibula is denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, as required for eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board denied service connection for bloody stools, abdominal pain, skin rash, and nose bleeds as there were no objective indicators of an undiagnosed illness. Service connection was granted for hemorrhoids (incurred in service) and gastritis (also incurred in service).

The veteran seeks a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The RO needs to conduct additional VA examinations and obtain medical records for the veteran's claim, including an examination of his physical disabilities and a psychiatric evaluation for PTSD.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound was denied as he did not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The veteran's request for an increased evaluation of his right ankle disability was denied by the RO.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for residuals of a fracture to the left ankle, finding no limitation of motion or arthritis that would warrant such a rating.