Ankle decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The back injury and degenerative joint disease of multiple joints are also not established as service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for both left and right ankle disabilities, finding no current evidence of chronic conditions in service or post-service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral spine disorder, left knee arthritis, left hip arthritis, and left ankle arthritis.

The Board has determined that the current evaluation of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is appropriate and denied an increased rating.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. The left ring finger disability was also not rated as compensable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left ankle disability, finding that there was no basis to grant a higher rating prior to March 9, 1999 and not warranting a rating higher than 10 percent from that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for bilateral ankle instability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle disability does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, or ankle disorder. The medical evidence does not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's left ankle, left knee, and back disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they etiologically related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total convalescent rating in excess of June 30, 1998 due to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence of record showing the veteran has any of the claimed conditions, and thus service connection for gastritis, UTI, hearing loss, left knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, or lumbar spine disorder cannot be established.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of right tibial and fibular fracture, including right leg shortening and peroneal and tibial nerve neuropathies, is denied due to the 'amputation rule'.

The veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and his service-connected back disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has determined that the increased evaluations requested are not warranted.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were partially granted. The rating for psoriasis with eczema craquele was increased to 30% from May 11, 2000. The rating for right CTS and left ankle sprain remained at noncompensable (10%) levels. The veteran's claim for an increased rating of her left CTS was granted.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD did not cause or contribute to his death, and there was no evidence linking his hypertension to PTSD.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including as secondary to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange), were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disability or a link between the claimed conditions and Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a hearing before the Board at the RO.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for xerostomia, as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury, left ankle disorder, and an increased rating for hypertension.