Ankle decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities. The April 1969 RO decision remains final.

The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed residuals of a left ankle injury.

The Board denied the claims of service connection for right ankle disability and bilateral pes planus, finding no new and material evidence to reopen either claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left knee and right ankle disabilities are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or diagnosis. The arthritis was first diagnosed many years after service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete development of the record.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have residuals of shell fragment wounds to the left knee or ankle, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. The scars from the left hand and thigh are evaluated as direct service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to the veteran's failure to appear at a previously scheduled hearing and his reported medical condition.

The veteran's claims for knee disorders, ankle disorder, heart disorder, and erectile dysfunction were granted based on direct service connection. Seasonal allergic rhinitis was not found to meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The VA has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, left ankle, and low back disabilities. The RO found that the current evaluations of 10 percent are appropriate based on the symptoms described.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right foot disorder with ankle pain. The veteran's preexisting condition did not worsen during service, and no new evidence supports reopening the claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability. The veteran is not shown to have a right ankle disability due to disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant prior to the Board making a final decision.

The VA has granted service connection for the veteran's right ankle injury with recurrent subluxation and assigned a 10 percent rating effective August 4, 1997. The current evaluation is based on moderate limitation of motion.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that there was no medical evidence linking his current condition to his active duty.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of tarsal tunnel syndrome of the right ankle and denied service connection for this condition. The veteran's appeal regarding a higher evaluation for his inguinal hernia repair with residual scar remains pending.

The June 24, 1992 rating decision that assigned special monthly compensation was not based on CUE and the veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for intermediate rate between subsections (l) and (m).

The veteran's appeal of the assigned ratings for hypertension and traumatic arthritis of the left ankle remains pending, and a new examination is required to determine current disability levels.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and ankle disabilities due to a lack of current disability evidence in either wrist or ankle. The veteran's testimony regarding his symptoms was not considered competent evidence.

The veteran's claimed psychiatric, right leg, gastrointestinal, and back disorders are not service-connected.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum from a VA physician regarding the etiology of the veteran's current left knee disorder and an orthopedic examination to determine the severity of the veteran's left ankle and cuboid disorders.