Ankle decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected left ankle disorder warrants a 30 percent disability rating, as it is characterized by pain and limited dorsiflexion to five degrees.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right ankle disability and service connection for a back disability, including as secondary to his right ankle disability. The RO had previously granted a 20% evaluation for the right ankle disability.

The Board is remanding the case to allow for further development and readjudication of the appellant's claims, including providing VCAA notice.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of bilateral knee disorders and denied an increased rating for right ankle disorder. The veteran's bilateral knee disorders are not shown to be related to his service-connected right ankle disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and right shoulder disabilities, as well as COPD. The evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a nexus to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (left ankle, left knee, and hypertension) resulted in a combined evaluation of 40 percent from December 7, 1998, to September 21, 2003. The claim for a higher combined evaluation is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether the veteran's left ankle disability was aggravated during service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder, as the evidence received since the final denial does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has granted a compensable (10 percent) rating for the veteran's service-connected right ankle sprain, taking into account his reported symptoms and examination findings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and ankle disabilities, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current residuals of a right ankle sprain, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board found no evidence of a current left leg disability and denied service connection for arthritis of the left ankle. The Board also determined that there was not sufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection for a left leg disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently suffer from a chronic right ankle disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied each of the issues on appeal.

The veteran's left ankle disability was not granted a compensable rating prior to November 17, 2003 and a rating in excess of 10 percent from that date forward. The veteran's left knee disability was also not granted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed disabilities, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hip, spine, and knee disabilities as secondary to a service-connected calcaneum spur. The claim for residuals of a left ankle injury was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral ankle disorder or cervical spine disorder that is related to service-connected disability, and therefore denied both claims for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral ankle disorder is related to injury sustained during parachute jumps in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.