Ankle decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disorders are aggravated by his service-connected herniated L5-S1 disc, post-laminectomy and discectomy. As a result, these conditions have been granted as secondary to the service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellar dislocation and residuals of a sprained right ankle with instability. Service connection for lumbosacral strain with herniated and degenerative disc disease is not addressed as the issue status is unknown.

The case is being remanded to the RO due to a need for additional development and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right ankle disability may have been aggravated by service, and thus granted service connection for its residuals.

The veteran's appeal is about seeking an increased rating for his service-connected right ankle fracture. The case has been remanded due to the veteran not appearing at a previously scheduled Travel Board hearing.

The veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected disabilities have been denied. The left ankle disability remains at a 20% rating, the right shoulder at a 10% rating effective March 1995, and the lumbosacral spine at a 60% rating since April 30, 2001.

The Board finds that the veteran's left ankle disability was not incurred in service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to his military service. The Board also determines that there is no causal relationship between the veteran's impotence and VA medical treatment, thus denying both claims.

The veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal condition is rated at 30 percent, but the issues of residuals from surgery to the lungs and pancreas, left elbow injury, right ankle sprain, conjunctivitis (blurred vision), removal of a hyperkeratotic papule on the back, and musculoskeletal chest wall pain are all denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right inguinal hernia and right ankle disability.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues regarding service connection for various injuries and disorders. The case is now remanded for additional evidence collection and medical examinations.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury and denied an increased evaluation for left wrist sprain with CTS.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for the service-connected left ankle disability was denied. The maximum schedular rating of 40 percent is not warranted, as other schedular criteria do not allow for a higher rating.

The veteran's right ankle disability, which included arthritis and anklyosis, was rated at 40 percent disabling effective from October 11, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of costochondritis, left ankle disability, or chronic right shoulder disorder. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a fracture to the fourth digit of the left hand, right ankle disability, and left knee disability due to lack of current evidence of these conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for Achilles tendonitis (claimed as bone spurs of both feet, inflamed heel, feet and ankles) is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence from private medical providers and verification of his period of inactive military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, claimed as heel and ankle pain, but denied an increased rating for the veteran's cyst of the mandible.

The Board denied a claim for a higher evaluation of the veteran's service-connected right ankle instability with post-traumatic arthritis, which was initially rated at 10 percent and later increased to 20 percent effective December 22, 1990.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral ankle disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, is not secondary to his service-connected residuals of frozen feet.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current osteoarthritic changes in the left ankle are related to service, specifically an injury during active duty. Service connection for residuals of left ankle injury is granted.