Ankle decisions — 2006

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service-connected disability and denied the claim for DIC.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a head injury with headaches and memory loss, left ear hearing loss, and residuals of a left ankle fracture. The rating for residuals of a head injury was found to be appropriate at 10 percent, effective from November 15, 1994. The rating for left ear hearing loss remains noncompensable. For the period beginning July 26, 2000, the veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right foot/ankle prior to September 1, 2005 and a rating in excess of 20 percent from that date.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent. The hip and ankle arthritis were not shown to be related to military service, and the feet arthritis was not shown to have been incurred during active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle degenerative joint disease was incurred in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, right ankle disability, residuals of a head injury, bilateral shoulder disability, neck disability, and astigmatism in the April 2002 rating decision. The appeal was not timely filed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for initial evaluation of left ankle disorder and need for a VA examination regarding left knee disorder. The veteran's claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The VA determined that the veteran's right ankle sprains do not warrant a compensable evaluation as they are not related to his service-connected condition and there is no evidence of arthritis or other conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a left ankle, left knee, or other left leg disorder that is related to service. The back disorder was also found not to be related to service.

The veteran's right hip and left ankle strain disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each since July 18, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disability on both a direct and secondary basis, as well as his claims for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied reopening the claim for residuals of a left ankle injury and denied secondary service connection claims for disability of the left knee and shoulder. The evidence received since June 1999 did not relate to an established fact of an in-service left ankle injury.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not proximately due to or the result of a disease or disability incurred or aggravated during service, or presumptively service connected.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of left ankle fracture, residuals of left ring finger fracture, and left inguinal hernia as there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder condition, recurrent right ankle sprain, and residuals from a left hand crush injury. The conditions were found to not warrant higher disability ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not require aid and attendance or render him housebound.

The Board has determined that the veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability and grants this claim. The bilateral ankle disability issue remains pending as it requires further examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for traumatic arthritis of the left ankle and right shoulder, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for numbness of the left leg, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder. The Board also found no evidence to support a claim for a right hand disorder as secondary to a service-connected right shoulder disorder. The Board also denied the veteran's claim for sleep apnea due to lack of in-service diagnosis or connection.