Ankle decisions — 2005

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that Parkinson's disease did not result from any incident or condition during active military service and is unrelated to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right knee, ankle, and epididymitis disabilities were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the current manifestations of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the veteran's current left ankle disability is related to his service-connected ganglion cyst removal. The Board also found that there was no evidence of a pre-existing left knee disability and that any potential left knee disability is not related to the service-connected left ankle disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of his claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the right and left ankles. The RO must consider 38 C.F.R. �� 4.40, 4.45, and 4.59 as well as evidence of ankylosis in each ankle.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including degenerative joint disease at L4 and L5, headaches, right heel fracture, left ankle fracture, wrist disorders, shoulder disorder, knee disorders, and stomach issues. The appeals were based on presumptions of undiagnosed illness due to service in the Southwest Asia theater.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected right ankle disability was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without providing cause.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his shoulder, wrist, knee, and ankle disabilities are denied. The Board found that the veteran does not have chronic disabilities of these joints that began during service or as a consequence of service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left ankle disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left knee stiffness, and hypertension were denied. The claim for an increased rating for chronic low back strain was remanded.,Service connection was not granted for a right ankle lump or mitral valve prolapse.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, left knee, and bilateral flat feet conditions were denied. His claim for higher ratings of his service-connected left foot condition was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed back, hip, ankle, foot, and right knee disorders are not related to her service-connected left knee injury. The claims for secondary service connection have been denied.

The Board found no evidence of current nephrolithiasis, left ankle disability, or conversion reaction related to service. The veteran's claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle sprain disability warrants a maximum schedular rating of 20 percent, as there is no evidence of ankylosis or other exceptional circumstances warranting referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not service connected, with no exposure to herbicide agents and no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for right knee and ankle disabilities were denied as there was no evidence to support the secondary relationship between his service-connected left knee disability and these conditions.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's right ankle disability, currently rated at 20 percent. The evidence showed objective observations of pain and limited motion but no findings of instability or ankylosis.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's right ankle disability, which includes traumatic arthritis and an attempt at fusion surgery. The left great toe disability is rated as 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's right ankle disability, manifested by X-ray evidence of arthritis and limited motion, does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board granted service connection for seborrheic dermatitis and assigned a noncompensable evaluation. The veteran was also granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for low back strain, right foot plantar fasciitis with ankle pain, seborrheic dermatitis, right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, and ischemic heart disease with hypertension.

The veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities have been granted service connection and increased ratings. The left foot/ankle disability is currently rated at 20% for pain, limitation of motion, and mild arthritis. The right ankle disability was initially rated at 10%, with a temporary total rating due to surgery followed by an increase to 20% from September 1, 2004 onwards.