Ankle decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral ankle disabilities or plantar fasciitis of the right and left feet, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic wrist or ankle disability in service, and denied the veteran's claims for bilateral wrist and ankle disabilities. The mono-articular arthritis of the left knee was not considered to be related to these wrists and ankles.

The veteran seeks a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, including arthritis of the right ankle and diabetes mellitus with retinopathy. The case is being remanded for further examination and adjudication.

The veteran seeks service connection for left and right ankle disorders, as well as a back and tailbone disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating, secondary service connection, and direct service connection for his ankle disorders. The evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for varicose vein stripping is granted. The other claims are either denied or pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the feet and granted service connection for a right ankle sprain. The evidence does not support either claim.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a chronic left ankle disorder and a chronic back disorder. The case is REMANDED for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right ankle fracture, effective September 8, 1993.

The veteran's right knee and right ankle disabilities have been increased to a 10% rating effective January 26, 2005 for the right knee and April 6, 2005 for the right ankle.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and right ankle disabilities are not supported by the evidence, resulting in a denial of both claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notification regarding increased evaluation of his service-connected right ankle sprain.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The veteran is currently rated at 50 percent for residuals of burns of the bilateral feet, ankles and heels with impaired circulation, but not entitled to a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7117. He is also rated at 20 percent for healed scars on the back and upper extremities, but not entitled to a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 7801 or 7802.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for right ankle and right knee disabilities, but denied her increased rating claim for left ankle disability.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected left ankle disability, finding that it only met the criteria for a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding service connection for a left ankle disability and an increased rating for PTSD. The TDIU claim is also on hold until further development is completed.

The veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae was incurred or aggravated in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The other issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for arthritis of the right ankle and a low back disorder, finding that these conditions are related to the veteran's service-connected right ankle injury. The initial evaluation is set at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of both knees and ankles was not incurred in or aggravated by service, may not be presumed to have been so incurred, and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. The veteran's left foot disability is asymptomatic and does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for low back and right ankle conditions, as well as for a respiratory condition, anxiety disorder, and PTSD. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.