Ankle decisions — 2005

The veteran's ankle disabilities were initially granted with noncompensable evaluations, which were later increased to 20 percent effective October 21, 2003.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's postoperative residuals of a left ankle sprain with laxity, finding that this is more appropriately rated under Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The RO is directed to ensure that all notification and development actions required by VCAA are fully satisfied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a right ankle disorder, PTSD, and left knee disorder. The decision also noted that the denial of his claim for residuals of a left arm injury in 1968 was based on no residual chronic disability found at separation examination.

The Board denied service connection for left hip and left ankle disabilities as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability. The claim for a higher rating of 40% for multiple status post surgeries, degenerative joint disease with limitation of motion of the left knee was granted.

The Board denied service connection for the appellant's claimed conditions, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by service and thus did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board denied all service connection claims for bilateral shoulder, neck, ankle, and knee disabilities as the evidence did not show current disabilities or a link to military service.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's left ankle disability, effective May 18, 2001.,A 10 percent evaluation is also granted for the veteran's right ankle disability, effective May 18, 2001.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain was granted a rating of 40 percent, stomach disorder with scars was granted a rating of 20 percent, right hand fracture was granted a rating of 0 percent, right ankle arthralgia was granted a rating of 10 percent from June 10, 1995 to February 2, 2000 and dismissed thereafter, and TMJ syndrome was granted a rating of 10 percent from June 10, 1995 to February 4, 1997 and dismissed thereafter.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic arthritis of the right ankle with plantar calcaneal spur, status post open reduction and internal fixation of the fracture, warrants a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a left leg disability, including knee and ankle disorders, finding that these disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, which included generalized anxiety disorder (30%), chondromalacia of the right knee (10%), chondromalacia of the left knee (10%), right ankle sprain (10%), and migraine headaches (10%), did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 18, 1993.

The Board found that the veteran's hip, knee, ankle, and lumbar spine disabilities are not proximately due to or the result of military service or service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle, foot, and toes disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and VCAA notice.

The veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, bursitis of the left hip, and right Achilles tendonitis (claimed as right ankle pain) have all been assigned noncompensable ratings.,The veteran's left elbow pain has not been found to be service-connected.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed spinal cord injury, right leg tingling and numbness, tingling in the shoulders bilaterally and neck, and right ankle sprain.

The veteran argues that the effective date for his service connection should be September 1986, when he filed an informal claim. The Board found this argument not valid and denied the request for a different effective date.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral Achilles tendonitis, left ankle disorder, or right knee disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.