Ankle decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral knee disability had its onset in service and is related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disorder will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the ankles and feet, but granted a 20 percent rating for bilateral bunionectomies with hammertoes.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not timely perfect an appeal of the May 2000 RO decision regarding his claims for service connection and increased evaluation. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The VA denied a higher rating for the veteran's left ankle fracture residuals, currently rated at 10 percent.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's right ankle disability, as his current condition does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current right ankle disorder to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's left ankle disability, effective January 11, 2001. The previous evaluations were noncompensable prior to that date and 10 percent thereafter.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee and right ankle disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service, nor are they otherwise related to such service. The claim for headaches is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of a right ankle sprain warrant a 20 percent disability evaluation, which is the highest rating available under Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Board denied the veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of a fracture of the left ankle and distal fibula, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left shoulder arthralgia. The initial ratings assigned are as follows: 10 percent for residuals of fracture of the left ankle and distal fibula; no higher rating is granted for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome or left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome; a noncompensable rating is granted for left shoulder arthralgia.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected residuals of mandible fracture. The issue of entitlement to service connection for residuals of right ankle sprain was denied.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a diagnosed cardiovascular disorder, hypertension, back disorder, leg disorder or ankle disorder and denied all service connection claims.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating and earlier effective date were denied. The right ankle disability is rated at 30 percent, but the separate pes cavus with hammertoe deformity of the right foot received a 10 percent rating from April 8, 1999.

The Board found that the veteran's right foot and ankle disability, currently rated at 30 percent, should be separately rated as separate disabilities. The RO originally granted service connection for metatarsalgia of the right foot with moderate pes planus but later increased the rating to 30 percent by combining ratings for limited ankle motion (20%) and pes planus (10%).

The Board found that the appellant's right ankle disability is likely attributable to his military service and granted service connection for arthritis of the right ankle and subtalar joints, with instability of the right ankle.

The Board found that the veteran's current right ankle disability is not related to his military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's right ankle, low back, left leg and ankle, and right leg disorders are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected burn residuals.

The RO increased the rating for the left shoulder disability to 20 percent and the rating for the left ankle to 10 percent, both effective from July 8, 1999.