Ankle decisions — 2005

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of shell fragment wounds to the right leg, finding that these residuals are likely due to combat injuries in service. The claim for a left ankle disorder is denied as there is no evidence of current disability or in-service injury. Service connection for a left hip disorder is also granted based on the now-connected right leg disability.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for service connection of a right ankle disability was denied. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for higher initial ratings from December 1, 1999 to September 10, 2001, or from September 11, 2001. The claim for an earlier effective date was also denied as there is no evidence showing service connection prior to December 1, 1999.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's right ankle disability and did not address his TDIU claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of zero percent for residuals of a left ankle fracture, finding no evidence of limitation of motion or other compensable conditions.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's chronic left ankle strain, effective from January 1998.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed disabilities, including back, left knee, right ankle, and right wrist disabilities. The service connection claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, fatigue, left ankle disorder, and cervical spine disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by his active duty military service.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or due to housebound status is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The veteran's right ankle disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling since March 28, 1995. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date were denied. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board granted an increased evaluation of 20 percent for the disability of the right ankle effective August 18, 2004.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee condition as secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability. The veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left ankle is also found to be related to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the veteran's residuals of a right ankle fracture, effective from June 15, 2002. The claim for service connection for a left hip disability as secondary to his service-connected right ankle fracture was also granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current level of disability for his left wrist fracture and right ankle sprain.

The veteran's joint pain, including in the ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, and wrists, is found to be due to an undiagnosed illness related to her service in the Persian Gulf. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board found that the veteran did not have any residual disabilities resulting from service-connected conditions, including a head injury, low back disability, right ankle disorder, and left shoulder disorder.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the left ankle, bilateral shoulders, knees, hands, wrists, elbows, feet, hips, and lumbar spine. The veteran's arthritis was not found to have originated during or within one year after his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a left ankle disorder or arthritis during service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral wrist disorder and residuals of a right ankle injury are service-connected. The claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of left ankle injury is denied.

The veteran's left ankle post-traumatic degenerative joint disease is rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under VA guidelines. The Board found that his disability did not warrant a higher evaluation.