Ankle decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a right ankle disability. The issue of whether the reopened claim should be granted remains pending.

The veteran seeks service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture, which the Board finds to be established. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.,Service connection is being remanded for the following conditions: prostate disorder (prostate hyperplasia with elevated PSA), chronic genitourinary disability, and dizziness.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for his left ankle disorder, residuals of left shoulder surgery with degenerative changes, myositis of the lumbosacral spine, and right knee degenerative joint disease and patellofemoral syndrome. The evidence did not support these claims.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right ankle disability, which is currently rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5271 for moderate limitation of motion, does not warrant a higher rating. The evidence shows no more than moderate limitation of motion and no additional functional impairment due to pain or other factors.

The veteran is entitled to an effective date of April 21, 2002 for the grant of a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected orthopedic disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for obesity, gastric ulcers, fatigue/chills, onychomycosis (brittle nails), twitching and suspension of breath while sleeping, soft tissue sarcoma of the right ankle, and lupus are denied as secondary to herbicide exposure. The effective dates for special monthly compensation based upon loss of use of a creative organ, service connection for chronic right knee strain, chronic left knee strain, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, diabetic retinopathy, increased rating for bilateral pes planus, and increased rating for residuals of ganglion cyst of the right wrist are also denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to military service or her service-connected knee disability.

The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the veteran's bilateral hip, low back, knee, ankle, and left foot disorders were present in service or related to service. The claim for secondary service connection was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right ankle is related to his period of active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to incomplete medical records and for proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not impair his ability to prepare for, obtain, or retain employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests. Therefore, he does not have an employment handicap.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected ankle and knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support ratings higher than 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, shoulder, and wrist disabilities to obtain additional medical records and to schedule an examination. The veteran's claim will be processed as if his hearing loss request was withdrawn.

The Board found no current disabilities in the ankles, knees, or elbows and denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disability and right ankle disability, both claimed as secondary to her service-connected right hip disability. The examiner concluded that these disabilities are not related to her service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated during his active duty due to his own willful misconduct in a motorcycle accident.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound was denied as he is not legally blind, bedridden, or unable to perform daily activities without assistance.

The veteran's back condition is rated at 60% due to pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome with significant symptoms.,The veteran's left knee condition remains at 20%, as the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The veteran's fused left ankle and residuals are rated at 20%, with no further increase.

The Board has granted service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and denied service connection for residuals of right ankle sprains and residuals of left ankle sprains.