Ankle decisions — 2006

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder, finding that the condition was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected right knee disability.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his right ankle disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on moderate impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation, finding that his left ankle and foot disabilities were not related to service or service-connected conditions. The right foot disorder is currently rated at 10%.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim. The right ankle issue is remanded for further examination.

The veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating under the applicable criteria. The other disabilities are not entitled to increased ratings.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a left ankle sprain was denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left ankle do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as there is no evidence of complete paralysis of the musculocutaneous nerve.

The veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the feet, ankles, toes and hips as secondary to his service-connected bilateral chondromalacia is being remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating from 20 percent for a history of a right ankle fracture with pain, finding that his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right foot/ankle disorder and left foot plantar fasciitis with hammertoes are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left ankle disability related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's quadriplegia was caused by his service-connected left ankle disability or low back disability, and whether this fall occurred due to a combination of these disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a current right ankle disability and denied the claim for service connection. The initial ratings for GERD with hiatal hernia and IBS, lumbar and thoracic strain, prostatitis and epididymitis, and myofascial pain syndrome were also denied.

The VA denied an increased disability evaluation for the veteran's right ankle injury, finding that it did not warrant a rating greater than 20 percent prior to February 18, 2005, and 30 percent beginning February 18, 2005.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture, right hand injury, and hearing loss in both ears. The evidence does not support current disabilities or link them to service.

The Board found that the veteran's left ankle condition did not originate in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's left ankle and foot injuries do not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 10 percent rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury with DJD, finding that there is no evidence linking his current disability to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a medical examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the veteran's bilateral pes planus, right ankle disability, and residuals of a calcaneal stress fracture of the left foot.

The veteran's initial compensable evaluations for lateral scar of the right ankle, medial scar of the right ankle, and left ankle scar were denied due to lack of tenderness or functional limitation. The case is remanded to obtain additional evidence regarding a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.