Ankle decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board Hearing.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability was granted a 20 percent evaluation effective February 5, 2004. The bilateral flatfoot condition received a noncompensable rating prior to February 5, 2004 and a 20 percent rating effective that date.

The Board found that the veteran's left ankle disorder and gunshot wound residuals were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's death was accidental and not caused by his service-connected right ankle osteomyelitis. The evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's alcoholism, which began well before his surgery in 1992, was related to his right ankle condition.

The veteran seeks service connection for right ankle injury, low back disorder, and status post lithotomy. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct examinations to determine the nature of any current disorders and their relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right ankle disorder or low back disorder related to service, but he was granted service connection for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a chronic right ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorders, or low back disorders separate and distinct from his already service-connected disabilities. The veteran's current conditions are not causally related to active duty nor do they develop secondary to his service-connected compound fracture of the right tibia and fibula with leg shortening.

The Board found that the veteran's current right ankle disorder is not causally related to his active service, any incident therein, or any service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran's right ankle disability does not warrant a higher rating, and her surgical scar to the right ankle is rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 7804. The evidence did not show marked limitation of motion or deep scars.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right ankle disability or hepatitis, and finds that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is for a higher evaluation of his service-connected right ankle disability, which was initially granted in February 1995 with a 10 percent rating. The case has been remanded multiple times due to missing x-ray films and the need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to additional evidence and argument received from the veteran.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the veteran's left ankle fracture residuals and has also granted a separate 10 percent rating for his left ankle scar. The effective date remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder, knee disorder (unspecified), lumbar disc disease, and unspecified ankle disorder. The October 1955 rating decision denying these claims is final.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and a right ankle disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral leg disability, including peripheral neuropathy, and arthritis of ankles and hips. The RO previously denied these claims in January 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a discolored front tooth (#8) and left ankle disability, as well as his request for an increased rating for bursitis of the right hip. The decision also noted that new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen the claim for service connection for a left ankle disability.

The veteran's postoperative residuals of a left ankle fracture are rated at 30 percent, and his left ankle scars are rated at 10 percent.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's current right ankle sprain is related to service, and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities of his hips or ankles due to stress fractures sustained during service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.