Ankle decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's Reiter's syndrome, including his left ankle disorder, was incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD due to service and his bilateral ankle disability is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle disability is due to an injury incurred in active duty and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, residuals of bilateral ankle strains, depression, a disability manifested by nose bleeding (manifested by nose bleeds), and narrowing of the disc space between C5-6 and C6-7. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service or do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational background and occupational experience.

The Board found no evidence of a wrist disability and denied the veteran's claim for service connection. The remaining issues on appeal are pending, but will be deferred until completion of the requested medical examination.

The veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent under the criteria for limitation of motion. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition and thus denies an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle disability is not secondary to his service-connected bilateral total knee replacements (TKR). The evidence does not support a finding of causation or aggravation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic ankle disabilities, including tenosynovitis of both right and left ankles, are related to his service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board previously denied service connection for residuals of injuries to the ankles. New evidence submitted since September 1991 decision supports a current diagnosis of left ankle disability, but not right ankle disability.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations were denied as his disabilities did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, his right ankle fracture at 10 percent, and gastritis, dermatitis, and sinusitis are all rated as noncompensably disabling. The RO denied the TDIU rating on appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for hearing loss, service connection for tinnitus, and a left ankle disorder. The claim to reopen his previously denied left foot disorder was also denied.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence showing a current left ankle disability, and the service records do not indicate any in-service left knee or hearing loss. The veteran's claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral ankle and foot disabilities, benign positional vertigo, lung disability, and PTSD, were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has determined that the appellant's fungus of the toenails and left ankle condition were not incurred or aggravated during service, and thus denied her claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence of a current chronic ankle or knee disability, and thus the veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a left foot disorder, and a left ankle disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a left ankle disability and denied service connection for a left foot disorder. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a left foot disorder is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a right foot and ankle condition related to the veteran's in-service sprain. The initial rating of 10 percent for second degree burn scars on the right chest and hand is also granted, with separate ratings for each area due to widely separated areas.