Ankle decisions — 2003

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches and arthritis of ankles and feet, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection, finding no current disabilities or evidence of in-service injuries that would support these claims.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal, and the Board has dismissed the case without prejudice.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and needs further development before a final decision can be made.

The veteran's claim for service connection for leg, ankle and shoulder conditions secondary to his cervical spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability, left ankle disability, and left hip disability secondary to the veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle sprain and cervical spine discogenic pain, finding that these conditions are causally linked to the veteran's active duty service.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for each of the veteran's service-connected left and right ankle disabilities, finding that the severity of these conditions more nearly approximates marked limitation of motion.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right foot, proximal right fibula, and right ankle disabilities have been denied due to a lack of evidence regarding the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain service records and medical opinions regarding the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating for the residuals of a fracture of the left ankle and has determined that arthritis of multiple joints, including the knees and back, is due to service. The veteran's claims are granted.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's right ankle disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on moderate limitation of motion.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for gout of the left ankle, gout of the left knee, and gout of both great toes.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability and right ankle disability do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of right knee, ankle, or wrist disorders, and the veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection under applicable laws.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disorders and right and left ankle disorders, finding that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has jurisdiction to adjudicate the claims for increased ratings for left ankle disability, hypertensive vascular disease and coronary artery disease from January 1, 1998, maxillary sinusitis, and service connection for lung condition. The RO must readjudicate these issues with any subsequent revisions in rating determinations deemed necessary.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has decided that the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle and right foot injuries have been denied.

The veteran's left knee and right ankle disabilities have been granted initial evaluations, with the left knee receiving a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, right ankle disorder, low back strain, traumatic arthritis of the left knee, postoperative residuals of reconstruction of the lateral collateral ligaments of the left ankle with traumatic arthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or hypertension. The veteran's service-connected disabilities are already in effect for his left knee and left ankle disorders.