Ankle decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran's right foot and ankle disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The veteran does not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the hips, knees, and ankles but assigned no percent ratings as there is minimal degenerative change with slight limitation of motion in all joints.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of chondromalacia patella and service connection for stomach, left knee, and ankle disorders due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to either service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current left ankle or left knee disabilities and therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left ankle disability, effective from February 25, 1997.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative spurring at L3-4, tender scar from left ankle laceration, and residuals of a left foot injury (healed). The evaluations were found to be in accordance with the current schedular criteria.

The Board denied an increased rating for a tender and painful scar on the left tibia, finding that the condition did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for further adjudication due to a lack of proper notice in the February 1978 rating decision and will consider service connection issues on appeal.

The October 1991 rating decision denied the appellant's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as the evidence did not show he was unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's left ankle sprain was granted an initial compensable evaluation of 10 percent. The cervical strain from June 22, 1994 to November 24, 1997 was also granted a compensable evaluation of 10 percent. On and after November 25, 1997, the veteran's cervical strain received an increased evaluation of 30 percent.

The Board found no evidence of a right ankle disorder during service and denied the claim as there is not sufficient medical evidence to establish that the current right ankle disorder is related to service or any service-connected disability.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of reopening claims seeking service connection for left ankle, left foot, and skin rash disorders. The Board is dismissing these appeals.

The Board denied secondary service connection for right ankle, left heel, low back, and hip disorders as not well grounded. The claim for a higher rating for the right knee disability was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board dismissed the motion for revision of a decision based on clear and unmistakable error because there was no final decision to review.

The Board has granted increased evaluations for hypertension, residuals of right cerebral artery infarction, degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, and degenerative joint disease of the left ankle. The veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated based on their current manifestations.

The Board found that the veteran knowingly submitted false medical certifications to gain increased compensation benefits, leading to forfeiture of his VA benefits.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal on the issues of whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for myositis of the right leg/knee, a bilateral knee disorder, and a right ankle/leg disorder.