Ankle decisions — 2004

The Board found that the character of the appellant's discharge from service for his second period of active duty constitutes a bar to VA benefits, as he was discharged under other than honorable conditions due to a general court-martial. The appeal is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening service connection for various disabilities, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to link these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee and left hip disabilities on a secondary basis to the veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine if separate ratings are appropriate for his right ankle and knee disabilities, as per a prior Board of Veterans' Appeals order.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, flat feet, athlete's foot, and blood clot disorder. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for neck and lower back disorders is also remanded due to a lack of evidence showing causation.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying his periods of inactive duty training. The VA will schedule a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board found no chronic right ankle disability during or after service, and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder of the face due to new and material evidence. The claims for residuals of frostbite of the face and degenerative joint disease of the right ankle are also granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the ankles, knees, and back as secondary to his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left and right great toes, post-operative cheilotomy was denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a medical examination to determine the presence and etiology of any left hip disorder. The issues include service connection for left hip arthritis as secondary to right knee and right ankle conditions, an increased rating for right ankle degenerative joint disease, and service connection for a right shoulder disorder.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his residuals of a right ankle fracture with traumatic arthritis, as the disability is currently rated at 20 percent.

The veteran seeks service connection for residuals to a right ankle injury sustained during active duty. The Board has determined that further development is needed, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the veteran for an orthopedic examination.

The veteran died from brain injury caused by cocaine overdose. The appellant seeks DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, but the Board finds that the veteran did not meet the criteria for such benefits as he was not in receipt of a 100% service-connected disability rating for at least 10 years prior to his death.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for residuals of a right foot or ankle injury and remanded the case to further develop evidence related to this issue. The secondary service connection claim for left hip disorder is also being remanded.

The VA denied an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's right ankle disability, which is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected left ankle disability, compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for deep vein thrombosis, and a TDIU.

The Board found that the veteran's left ankle disability is not related to service and denied her claim.