Ankle decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO found no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant higher disability ratings, and the claim to reopen a back disorder was also denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and respiratory residuals from asbestos exposure, but denied these claims. The ankle disorder claim was also denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's right ankle disability and denied service connection for a right knee and shoulder disability. The RO had considered these claims on their merits, but the Board found that they should be reopened as preliminary determinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected right ankle disability and denied his requests for service connection for a right hip disorder and a back disorder. The appeal was not about service connection at all, as it pertained to a clothing allowance or fee dispute.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bleeding in the stomach, subdural hematoma (claimed as hematosis), and wrist, ankle, neck, elbow, and knee disorders were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen claims for fatigue and headaches.

The Board found that the veteran's stroke is not service-connected, and denied both his claim for service connection for residuals of a stroke secondary to his fractured left ankle and his TDIU claim.

The veteran's right ankle arthropathy has not been manifested by symptomatology illustrative of marked limitation of motion, and the assigned rating of 10 percent is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The initial evaluation for paramyotonia congenita was granted, but the other claims remain unresolved.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for granulomatas of the lungs and a skin disease, finding no evidence that these conditions are radiogenic diseases or otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for an opinion regarding whether current right ankle and left heel complaints are related to service.

The veteran's left ankle sprain residuals and postoperative right tibia skin graft scar were evaluated, with the left ankle receiving a 20% rating since May 10, 2004.

The VA denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for myofascial pain syndrome of the left ankle, finding that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.

The Board has determined that a timely notice of disagreement was not submitted within one year following the July 2000 rating decision, and thus the claim is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and PTSD, as well as his increased evaluations for traumatic arthritis, a third degree burn scar of the left ankle, and a scar of the right knee. The evidence received since the October 1961 rating decision was found to be cumulative or immaterial.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed left knee and left ankle disorders are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for emesis, left ankle disorder, and left ear hearing loss. The RO assigned noncompensable ratings for bilateral pes planus.

The claims of service connection for residuals of a right elbow injury, residuals of a right ankle injury, and psychiatric disorder were denied as new and material evidence was not presented.

The Board granted service connection for arthritis of the left knee and a left ankle disorder, both found to be secondary to service-connected left leg phlebitic syndrome and left peroneal palsy. Service connection was also granted for residuals of a right hand injury.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected posterior tibial tendonitis of the right foot and awarded a 20 percent rating for his left ankle trimalleolar fracture residuals. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has granted an initial and increased rating of 20 percent for the service-connected left ankle disability, effective from January 17, 2001 to July 29, 2002. The veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for this condition.