Ankle decisions — 2002

The Board found no probative evidence that the veteran's residuals of a right ankle sprain are related to an injury or disease incurred in service, and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 30 percent each for the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of injury to the right and left ankles with traumatic arthritis.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's service-connected left ankle sprain from February 5, 1993 to February 24, 1997.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, residuals of a fractured right ankle with degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, and bronchitis. The veteran was found not to meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for temporary total ratings due to convalescence periods prior to February 11, 1990 and from September 1, 1990 to January 10, 1991. The claim for a period of convalescence from March 1, 1991 to April 24, 1991 is granted. The claims for periods from January 1, 1992 to July 24, 1992 are denied.

The VA has denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for low back strain and service connection for residuals of a right ankle fracture. The initial rating for low back strain is set at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a currently diagnosed chronic acquired disorder of either his left knee or left ankle, and thus cannot grant service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's right hand disability has been rated as 50 percent disabling based on incomplete paralysis of the median nerve. The rating is granted.,The veteran's right ankle disability was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a greater than 20 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection as there is no evidence of current disabilities and the veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The veteran meets the basic eligibility requirements for Chapter 31 vocational rehabilitation benefits due to his service-connected right ankle disorder, which resulted in significant employment impairment.

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is currently manifested by moderate limitation of motion, including pain and dysfunction. Therefore, a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for compensable ratings for his service-connected epidermophytosis and residuals of a right ankle sprain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle fracture and service connection for back and left hip disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and his service-connected right ankle disorder.

The Board found that the submitted evidence was not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for the residuals of burns to the right ankle.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected left ankle fracture, finding that his condition did not warrant a higher than 10 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right scapulocostal syndrome, chronic cervical strain, bilateral knee conditions, and right ankle sprain with ligament laxity were denied. The RO assigned a 10 percent rating to each condition effective from January 11, 1996.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were denied. The Board found that the left ankle disability did not warrant a higher rating, and there was no evidence of a left leg disorder or spine/psychiatric disorders related to service.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by limited motion and a postoperative scar, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of the current 20 percent rating.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of the current 40 percent rating for the veteran's right ankle and foot disabilities, finding that no higher evaluation is warranted under VA's rating schedule.