Ankle decisions — 2002

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for varicose veins of the legs, ankles, and knees and moles on the feet. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for any claimed conditions and the veteran's claims are denied.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for a low back disorder and a left ankle disorder. The veteran's attempts to reopen his claims were unsuccessful.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right ankle and right knee disorders, with a rating of 100% effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied all claims for increased evaluations, finding that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for increased evaluations and service connection.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability related to residuals of a left ankle sprain. The evidence supports service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board dismissed all eight issues due to the veteran's failure to appeal them.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral knee and ankle disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The low back disability was characterized as lumbosacral strain, rated at 10 percent, with no additional evaluations granted.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral foot and ankle disorders, bilateral leg disorder (residuals of injury to the right leg), neck disorder, and low back disorder, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The examiner determined that these conditions pre-existed service.

The Board found that arthritis of multiple joints, including the knees, elbows, ankles, and back, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not related to a service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding that they were not attributable to undiagnosed illnesses or any other basis.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a left ankle injury do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired bilateral ankle disorder and for a temporary total rating based on need for convalescence following hospitalization in August 1996, finding that there was no relationship between his claimed bilateral ankle disorder and his service-connected disability.

The Board finds that the veteran's right knee disorder is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected low back, left knee, and right ankle disorders. The criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected left knee medial meniscectomy are not met. The criteria for a separate compensable rating for a post-surgical left knee scar are not met. The criteria for a rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a right ankle fibula fracture are met.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches as a symptom of the veteran's service-connected cervical spine injury, and awarded an initial rating of 20 percent for his low back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for several musculoskeletal disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and residuals of injuries to the head, neck, back, left ankle, and chest, including the lungs and ribs. The decision is not considered clear and unmistakable error.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle injury and a compensable rating for the veteran's right elbow disability, finding no current evidence of these conditions.