Ankle decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected hypertension, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The other knee and ankle disabilities are not found to be directly related to service.

The veteran's service-connected right ankle disability is manifested by functional loss due to pain, swelling, and weakness. A 10 percent initial rating is granted for residuals of a fracture of the right ankle with surgical repair.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle and left knee disabilities. The right ankle disability was rated at 10%, while the left knee disability prior to October 15, 1999, was also rated at 10%. However, beginning October 15, 1999, the rating was increased to 30%.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right ankle and left knee disabilities were denied. The right ankle disability was not found to warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, effective from March 6, 1995, through June 30, 1998, or July 1, 1998. For the left knee, no higher evaluation was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA medical records and the need for further examination regarding the veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's status post left fibular fracture with ankle instability warrants a 30 percent disability rating, reflecting marked impairment including persistent ligamentous laxity and partial tears of tendons.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional notice and examination, including review of all new evidence.

The Board denied all issues related to service connection and increased evaluation for tendonitis of the right elbow, finding no evidence of a link between any claimed conditions and service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital due to lack of prior authorization and because no emergency condition existed that would have made delay hazardous.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic sprain, right ankle with degenerative arthritis warrants a 30 percent rating.

The Board found that the veteran's right knee and left ankle disorders are not secondary to his service-connected disabilities, thus denying all claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition, right ankle disorder, and bilateral knee disorders due to lack of legal merit.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right ankle disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation, but also grants a separate 10 percent evaluation for his surgical scar on the medial aspect of the right ankle.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current right shoulder, ankle, back, or vasectomy-related disabilities that are service-connected. The VA examinations did not reveal any chronic conditions related to military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased evaluations for traumatic arthritis of the left ankle and tinea pedis, as well as a claim for TDIU. The veteran's claims are pending with the RO.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back, neck, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during or aggravated by military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle disability and PTSD, as well as service connection for his right leg and hip problems.,The VA found that the veteran's current right ankle condition did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent, and his PTSD symptoms were not severe enough to meet a higher rating.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's left ankle sprain residuals, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected skin disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that there is no current hearing loss disability and denied the veteran's claim for service connection. The left ankle issue remains pending as it has not been addressed in this decision.