Ankle decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 10, 2002 for the grant of a non-service-connected pension due to lack of evidence showing entitlement arose before that date.

The Board found that the veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal regarding his claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, and thus dismissed the appeal.

The veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent disabling effective from November 19, 2002. The service-connected right hip disorder has not been found to be related to the right ankle disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information in the VA examination report, and further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, right knee, and left knee disorders as well as right epididymal cysts. The evidence did not show any new or material evidence to reopen his previously denied PTSD claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, low back, left ankle, and right hand disabilities as there is no competent evidence or opinion linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right ankle disorder attributable to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, including a medical opinion linking current left ankle arthritis to his pre-existing injury. The Board also found that the veteran's preexisting disability was aggravated during active military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen claims of service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a left elbow disorder. The claim for a leg/ankle disorder is also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's left ankle disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active military service, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection were not received within one year of his discharge from active duty, and therefore an earlier effective date is not warranted. The RO assigned the earliest possible effective date based on the date of receipt of the original claim.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left ankle disability was granted effective January 27, 1999. The RO found that the veteran failed to report for a scheduled VA examination in 1995 and reduced his disability rating accordingly.

The veteran's claim for service connection for pharyngitis was denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea, secondary to service-connected sinusitis, was also denied.

The Board denied benefits for prostate cancer resulting from VA treatment in 2000, but granted the left ankle fracture disability rating at its current level of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current leg or ankle disability and finds that any such disabilities are not related to his service-connected spine disabilities. As such, secondary service connection for these disabilities is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple joint pain and degenerative joint disease of both knees, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on new evidence provided by the veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic right ankle sprain residuals and a chronic right shoulder disorder, but denied service connection for a chronic right hand disorder.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature, extent and etiology of the veteran's left ankle disability. The case will be returned for further adjudication.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected asthma and right ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and employment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.