Ankle decisions — 2004

The Board denied the claims for service connection for the cause of death, entitlement to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, and entitlement to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between the veteran's service-connected conditions and his death.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected back, right knee, and left ankle disabilities due to incomplete examinations and new regulations.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for additional development due to procedural defects in VCAA notification.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development of the record, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury and granted a noncompensable disability rating for malaria. The veteran does not have active or current residuals of either condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right hip strain, right ankle strain, left ankle strain, and left knee strain do not warrant ratings in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent evaluations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disorders. The veteran's conditions are related to his inservice motor vehicle accidents.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the service-connected left ankle and secondary service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding no competent evidence of a relationship between the conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, but denied the remaining claims on appeal.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of right ankle fracture and right and left knee disorders as secondary to a right ankle fracture, finding that there was no clear and convincing evidence linking these conditions to his service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities, finding that they were not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain, right ankle arthritis, and left ankle avulsion fracture with arthritis were denied as the conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings prior to June 1, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current left ankle disability.

The veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and the evidence does not show that a service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's joint pain, manifested by swollen ankles and knees, is not service-connected due to known clinical diagnoses unrelated to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for multiple joint arthritis, an increased rating for sarcoidosis, and an increased rating for healed fracture, right ankle. The evidence did not support a finding that the veteran suffered from these conditions or that they were related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder and remanded the case for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete examination and lack of proper evidence.