Ankle decisions — 2006

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

The Board found that the veteran's pes planus pre-existed his entrance into both periods of active duty military service and did not increase in severity during either period. The claims for secondary service connection for back, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle conditions were denied as there was no legal basis to establish such connections.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for his left ankle scar, service connection for a left ankle disorder other than the scar, and service connection for depression. The veteran was not granted any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The veteran's claims of service connection and reopening of previously denied claims are pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete notification and development, as well as the need for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's right ankle disorder.

The veteran's right thumb disorder has been consistently shown to be productive of limited motion, with pain. However, the rating criteria for limitation of motion have only been in effect since August 26, 2002.,The service-connected right ankle disability is shown to be productive of motion limited by pain but there is no evidence of ankylosis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee and right ankle conditions are not service-connected, as they are not shown to be related to his active duty or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a 10 percent rating for her service-connected left ankle disorder, as she demonstrated pain and limited motion without additional functional loss. The bilateral wrist disorder was not found to be related to service.

The veteran's current left foot contracture with ankylosis of the left ankle is considered to have been incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder (claimed as secondary to the left ankle disorder), and PTSD are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right knee strain, shin splints of the right leg, and right ankle condition are not related to service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a left ankle disorder in service or within any applicable presumptive period, and the evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between any currently diagnosed left ankle disorder and the appellant's period of active service from August 1974 to May 1992. Therefore, service connection for a left ankle disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right ankle disability, including arthritis and recurrent sprains, was incurred during service. The appeal is granted.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a left ankle fracture with X-ray evidence of arthritis and painful motion, finding that his symptoms more closely approximate marked limitation of motion.

The veteran's hypertension is presumed to have been incurred in service and he is currently receiving treatment for it. The right ankle sprain during service resulted in degenerative joint disease, but the current condition does not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The skin rash between legs was acute and transitory in nature and did not produce any residuals.

The Board is remanding the case to consider whether the veteran may be entitled to separate ratings for his left knee and ankle disabilities, or additional ratings based on service-connected disability of the left ankle and knee.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the left ankle disability prior to June 21, 1994 and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent from that date.

The veteran does not currently have disabilities of the neck, low back, right knee, left knee, or right foot. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found no current left ankle disability and denied service connection for a left ankle disability. The veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome claim was not addressed due to the need to consider the most recent changes in rating criteria.

The veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.