Ankle decisions — 2005

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered after these are obtained.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a disorder of the neck and spine, finding no evidence linking his current condition to his service-connected jaw disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right and left ankle disabilities, as well as his bilateral pes planus with mild hallux valgus, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of marked limitation of motion or ankylosis in either ankle.

The Board found that there is no evidence of any current left knee or ankle disability and the veteran's complaints are attributed to pes planus. The claims for service connection were denied as there was no medical evidence linking the disabilities to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on his current treatment regimen.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, except for a finding that his skin cancer may be related to exposure to herbicides in service. The other conditions were not found to be incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for deep vein thrombosis resulting from VA treatment in connection with surgery on March 19, 1998 is granted.

The Board granted service connection for plantar fasciitis, a back disorder secondary to pes planus, and denied service connection for an ankle disorder and knee disorder as secondary to pes planus.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of a fracture of the left ankle with post-traumatic arthritis was denied by the Board. The current evaluation is 20 percent, effective March 17, 2000.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board also found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of psychiatric disability, and a right foot lesion was determined to be secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for the veteran's low back disability, as it was not shown to be related to his active duty. The left knee disability is considered primary and requires further examination and opinion.

The Board denied an increased rating for residuals of a fracture of the right ankle and denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for traumatic arthritis of the right ankle.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the appellant did not respond to requests for information needed to determine when and where his left ankle injury occurred during service, leading to abandonment of the appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's loss of peripheral vision of the right eye, lung disease (emphysema), and arthritis of the hands and ankles were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral leg, left ankle, and lumbosacral spine disabilities have been denied as these conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial disability ratings have been denied. The left ankle injury with traumatic arthritis remains at a 10% rating, while the right shoulder strain is rated at 10%. Other conditions remain at their current assigned ratings.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for residuals of right hand and right and left ankle injuries in April 1990, finding no new and material evidence. The appellant's petition to reopen these claims was denied again.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip and right ankle disorders as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected status post chronic lateral ligament instability of the right ankle does not warrant a higher disability rating, as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would allow for a higher evaluation. The current 20% rating reflects the presence of chronic pain and limitation of motion.

The veteran's left ankle disorder is currently rated as 20 percent disabling due to marked limitation of motion. The maximum schedular rating has been assigned.,The veteran contends that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of his service-connected left ankle disability and seeks a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU). However, the evidence does not support this claim as there are no disabilities rated at 60 percent or more, nor sufficient additional disabilities to bring the combined rating to 70 percent or more.