Ankle decisions — 2004

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, attributing it to coronary thrombosis. The effective date is set at June 11, 1982, based on new and material evidence submitted by the appellant.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of May 14, 1992 for his TDIU due to lack of evidence showing he was totally disabled by service-connected disabilities prior to that date.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death in May 1982, concluding that there was no evidence showing a causal relationship between his service-connected conditions and his death.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left ankle disability or a currently diagnosed liver disease, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board is returning the case to the RO to ensure compliance with legal provisions on the VA's duty to notify the claimant regarding evidence and information necessary to substantiate her claims, including what portion she is to provide and what portion the VA is to provide.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inaudibility of his Travel Board hearing recording, and he has requested another hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the new hearing.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for awards of a temporary total rating (T/TR) under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. � 4.30 and special monthly compensation (SMC), based on housebound status, both granted in February 2002 with an effective date of October 1, 2001. The RO has now granted these awards with an effective date of September 21, 2001. The veteran is requesting a further earlier effective date.

The Board found no evidence of a current right ankle disability and denied the veteran's claim for service connection. The back disability was not related to active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, arthritis of the knees, arthritis of the left ankle, and fungal infection of the hands and feet. The evidence does not establish a nexus between any in-service disease or injury and these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a more detailed orthopedic examination to address functional impairment and pain during flare-ups.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the initial disability ratings assigned for various conditions were also denied. The appeals are not granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of shrapnel wounds to his left ankle and great toe, as well as a shotgun wound to his left leg. The Board found that these conditions were not related to service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected right ankle disorder, characterized by marked limitation of motion, warrants a 20 percent rating.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability in any of the claimed conditions and denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and left ankle disorders.

The veteran is seeking service connection for residuals of a right ankle fracture. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination, is necessary before reaching a decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, right knee injury residuals, and skin disorder. The ROIC previously denied these claims in February 2002.

The veteran's claims for service connection on a direct or secondary basis are being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and development.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination.

The veteran's service-connected left ankle disorder is currently rated at the highest possible rating (20 percent) under Code 5271 for limitation of motion of the ankle. The Board denied a higher rating as there was no indication that pain caused the level of functional impairment to rise to the equivalency of ankylosis.