Ankle decisions — 2005

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee, bilateral leg, and right ankle disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of bilateral hip, ankle, and left knee injuries, hypertension, and hemorrhoids. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service or any incident therein.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disorder was denied. His right ankle and knee disorders are currently rated at 20 percent prior to October 18, 2004, and 30 percent thereafter.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and right ankle disabilities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claims for a compensable evaluation for service-connected residuals of a left ankle fracture and an increased evaluation for service-connected traumatic arthritis, lumbosacral spine and T-12 are not before the Board as they have become moot.

The veteran's claims for increased disability rating and service connection for right ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's right ankle disability, effective from November 19, 1992. The claim is denied for the period prior to November 18, 1992.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture and orthopedic disabilities of the back, hips, knees, and legs. The veteran's claims were based on direct evidence rather than presumptions or secondary conditions.

The appellant has withdrawn their appeal, resulting in the dismissal of this case.

The veteran's third degree burn scars of the left knee, leg and ankle are currently rated at 40 percent disabling. The maximum rating available under applicable criteria is granted.

The Board has received notification of the appellant's request to withdraw their appeal, and thus the case is dismissed.

The appellant is seeking higher evaluations for her service-connected lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right ankle disabilities. The initial evaluations were granted but not increased beyond the 10 percent levels.,For the diverticulosis disability, she seeks an evaluation in excess of 10 percent from December 1, 1999.

The Board finds that the veteran has a current cervical spine disability (neuritis/radiculopathy) that is related to her service-connected left shoulder disability, and grants service connection for this condition as secondary to her left shoulder disability. The claim for service connection for left ankle instability remains pending.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for multiple joint pain is being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration of whether he should be service-connected for low back or left ankle disorders, apart from the multiple joint pains.

The veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing appropriate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination reports.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records, particularly those from the Naval Hospital at Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current varicosities of the bilateral lower extremities and cellulitis of the left ankle are related to his active military service, resolving all doubt in favor of the veteran.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes and her tinnitus is not service-connected. The other conditions listed in the issues section are either not supported by evidence or were resolved prior to separation from service.