Ankle decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle and back disorders are not causally related to his service-connected knee disability. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right ankle disorder did not begin during service and is not related to any incident of service. As a result, the claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle disability warrants a 20 percent rating, resolving all doubts in his favor.

The veteran's non-service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for VA pension purposes.

The VA denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a surgical scar of the right ankle, as the evidence did not show marked limitation of motion or other factors warranting a higher rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a right ankle disorder, and chorioretinal scar in the right eye. The appeals for increased ratings for migraine headaches and GERD with hiatal hernia are still pending.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing left ankle disability was aggravated by service, and thus service connection is granted.

The veteran's right ankle fracture resulted in moderate limitation of motion from April 17, 1992 to April 20, 2001. From April 30, 2001 to December 25, 2002, the veteran experienced marked limitation of motion. After that date, his ankle fracture resulted in no more than moderate limitation of motion.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 20 percent for right ankle injury residuals and 10 percent for duodenitis, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various spine, shoulder, foot, and ankle disabilities. The appeals were based on direct evidence of these conditions without any presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board found no evidence linking the cause of the veteran's death to any service-connected condition, resulting in a denial of the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, a right ankle disability, or a left foot and toes disability due to lack of credible supporting evidence for claimed stressors and current diagnoses.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding that there was no current existence of these conditions and that they were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran's claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the April 1967 rating decision is dismissed without prejudice to refiling.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected left ankle and back disabilities as a matter of law due to his failure to appear for VA examinations scheduled in connection with his claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral ankle disorder, left knee disorder, low back disorder, and arthritis of the right hip are all service-connected due to their relationship with his pre-existing Perthes' disease.

The RO denied service connection for cava varus deformity of the feet with bilateral hammertoes and secondary traumatic arthritis of the ankles. The veteran's representative points out that the determination was not in accordance with VAOPGCPREC 3-2003, which mandates a review under new guidelines.

The veteran's right ankle disability, cervical spine disorder, headaches, and bilateral shoulder disability were all granted service connection. The right ankle was increased to a 20% rating.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition.,The Board also found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim for left ankle arthritis. The veteran's pre-existing pes planus was aggravated by his military service.