Ankle decisions — 2005

The veteran's increased ratings for his left ankle disability from June 27, 1994 to November 30, 2004 and December 1, 2004 to September 20, 2005 have been denied.,Service connection for a back condition as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected osteonecrosis of the right ankle and chronic essential tremor do not warrant increased disability ratings as they are currently evaluated.

The veteran's claims for service connection for mitral valve prolapse and increased evaluations for his lumbar spine and right ankle disabilities were denied, but he was granted separate initial evaluations of 10 percent each for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine and status post fracture, right ankle with retained hardware and traumatic arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of low back disability, chronic snoring, gastric reflux disorder, and right ankle disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for Charcot Marie Tooth disease/muscular dystrophy, to include a bilateral ankle condition. The medical evidence shows that the veteran's pre-service Charcot Marie Tooth disease/muscular dystrophy did not increase in severity during service beyond its natural progression.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right ankle, knee, and hip disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not show that any of these conditions warrant a rating higher than the current assigned disability ratings.

The veteran's CREST syndrome is productive of moderate impairment of health, with occasional attacks of blanching or painful hands and esophageal stricture. The RO granted a 60 percent evaluation for the disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for further examination and verification of service-connected conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic left ankle disorder and chronic bilateral hearing loss disability were denied. Initial compensable evaluations for his right knee lateral meniscal repair residuals and osteoarthropathy, as well as his left foot degenerative tarsals, are also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head concussion, back injury with arthritis, ankle disability, right elbow injury, or right shoulder injury has not been received.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right ankle fracture with traumatic arthritis is being remanded to the RO for consideration of additional evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including knee, ankle, shoulder, and body cramps disorders that were not found to be related to his service-connected pulmonary sarcoidosis. The cardiovascular disorders were also not granted as secondary to sarcoidosis.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left knee conditions are not rated higher than the current 10 percent, while the right knee condition is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection of back disability, bilateral elbow and ankle disabilities, and left knee disability. The appeals are denied.

The veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his service-connected left knee, left ankle, and right hip disabilities has been denied. The highest schedular disability evaluation of 60 percent is currently in effect for the left leg conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's knee, shoulder, ankle, and spine conditions need further examination to determine their etiology. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the right ankle, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling, and thus is not entitled to special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s).

The veteran does not have a diagnosed right ankle, shoulder, low back, hip, or knee disability. He also does not have residuals of chlorine gas exposure for which service connection is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and arthritis of the ankles, finding no evidence of these conditions during service or related to herbicide exposure.