Ankle decisions — 2001

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a gunshot wound to the right leg with fracture of the tibia and arthritis of the right ankle with limitation of motion warrant a 40 percent disability rating, while his osteoarthritis of the left knee warrants a 20 percent disability rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations. The TDIU claim will be handled after the degree of impairment for his service-connected disabilities is determined.

The claim is being remanded for further evaluation and additional development of the case.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the left ankle since October 27, 1995. The veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated based on their specific diagnostic codes in the VA Rating Schedule.

The Board granted a 50 percent evaluation for ankylosis of the left ankle and found that the veteran's service-connected disability resulted in marked interference with employment, but denied entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case due to new legal requirements and the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has determined that a 30 percent evaluation is warranted for the veteran's residuals of a left ankle fracture with arthritis, postoperative status.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various disorders, including a skin disorder and those of the left hip, lower legs, ankles, and feet, are denied. The claim for increased ratings is also denied.

The veteran's tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and traumatic arthritis of the right ankle are all found to be related to his military service. The residuals of a left middle finger shell fragment wound have also been granted as service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to a change in the law and the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from the Orlando VA facility.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various disabilities, including a low back disability, right ankle disability, and right knee disability. The RO granted service connection for left distal fibula fracture and closed reduction and external fixation tibia fracture with iliac crest bone graft, but denied other requested benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist, bilateral knee, and right ankle disabilities. The lipoma of the right costal margin is not considered disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle condition and headaches do not warrant higher ratings as they are currently evaluated.

The Board denied increased evaluations for various service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under either version of the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for osteoarthritis of the left ankle, finding that it did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent at any time during the appeal period.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle strain secondary to the appellant's service-connected fractures of the left tibia and fibula. The claim for increased evaluations was denied, but the TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee condition and increased the ratings for traumatic arthritis of left ankle, history of old injury, and chronic lumbar syndrome, degenerative disc disease. The effective dates for these grants are July 15, 1998.

The RO reduced a veteran's disability rating for his service-connected right ankle arthritis from 10 to 0 percent effective March 27, 1951. The decision is denied as there was no clear and unmistakable error.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a left knee disability and a left ankle disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, and continued the current evaluation of 30 percent for his right knee replacement.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings on three separate conditions are being remanded due to procedural issues.