Ankle decisions — 2003

The Board found that the chronic left ankle disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to the veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the reopening of claims for service connection for arthritis of the knees, hips, and ankles.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal for his claim of entitlement to service connection for a left hip disorder. The claims for increased evaluations for residuals of right ankle fracture have been denied as there is no evidence showing marked limitation of motion or ankylosis, which would warrant higher ratings.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right ankle fracture with degenerative joint disease was denied as he failed to report for necessary VA examinations.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's right ankle disability, finding that the current evaluation of 20 percent is appropriate given his ankylosed right ankle joint.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of a right ankle injury with osteochondritis, effective January 3, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that the new evidence submitted was not material.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder and the claim of a permanent and total disability evaluation for pension purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disorder and head injury residuals, finding no evidence of current disabilities related to events in service.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bowel disorder, urinary disorder, right ankle disorder, or perforation of left ear drum. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found no evidence of a right ankle disorder or bilateral shin splints incurred in service.,The veteran's current symptoms do not align with the conditions for which he is seeking service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury and residuals of a lower back injury, finding that these conditions are directly related to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for most of his daily needs so as to require the assistance of another. He is not bedridden nor he is a patient in a nursing home.

The Board finds that the appellant does not have a diagnosed right knee, left knee, or right ankle disability and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a disability evaluation of 20 percent for residuals of a left ankle injury since March 1, 1997.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected cephalgia and degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, finding that he is already in receipt of the highest evaluation available under the applicable rating codes.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected right ankle disorder did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as his subjective complaints of pain and limited motion were minimal and consistent with objective findings.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury and bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability related to service.