Ankle decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right ankle disability does not warrant an initial compensable rating from October 1, 1999, through July 30, 2000, or a rating in excess of 10 percent from July 31, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected tendonitis of the left and right ankles, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for either condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle sprain and persistent cough are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected plantar fasciitis and right ankle sprain with malleolar avulsion fracture, finding that he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations and did not provide any good cause.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee and ankle disability, manifested by x-ray evidence of arthritis with no painful limitation of motion or clinical instability, did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for bilateral varicose veins, and the veteran's right ankle and knee disabilities are rated at their maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for overuse syndrome of the right hip, knee, and ankle as secondary to the veteran's service-connected left below the knee amputation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee was incurred during active duty, and service connection is granted. The veteran does not have current degenerative joint disease in his left ankle, right shoulder, or either hip.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a hearing before the Board at the local RO and issuing a statement of the case on his claim for a compensable evaluation for chondromalacia of the left knee.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of May 16, 1994 for the veteran's award of TDIU and denied a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected partial ankylosis of the left ankle with post operative osteomyelitis of the left ankle and foot, status post graft.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a left inguinal herniorrhaphy. The claims of service connection for left testicle epididymitis and right ankle disability will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral ankle disorder related to service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating for his arthritis conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship to service or any other compensable basis.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the appellant's service-connected right ankle strain, effective July 31, 2002.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disorder or bilateral ankle weakness as a result of military service and denied the veteran's claims.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound of the abdomen are rated at 30 percent, effective from February 3, 1979. The left ankle fracture with arthritis is rated at 10 percent, effective from May 20, 1993. Osgood-Schlatter disease of the left knee remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's residuals of a left ankle injury, finding that the current 20 percent evaluation adequately reflects his symptoms and disability.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board found that the August 1980 rating decision denying service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The evidence submitted since then is considered new and material, thus reopening the claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing at his local VA office. The issues of service connection for low back strain and fracture, right ankle with traumatic arthritis are still pending.