Ankle decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle, right knee, and left knee disorders due to lack of evidence of current disabilities. The new evidence submitted since the July 1970 decision did not establish a current disability.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the medical record.

The veteran's right ankle disability is manifested by limitation of motion, but does not more nearly approximate marked than moderate. The requirements for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The veteran's right ankle sprain and low back strain are service-connected, but the VA has determined that a compensable evaluation is not warranted for either condition. The VA has granted a 20% disability rating for the veteran's low back strain.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the veteran's right foot and ankle disability, but has remanded the claim for a higher rating for his chest and upper abdomen wound.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right middle finger injury, right ankle arthralgia, and left ankle arthralgia. The veteran is no longer seeking service connection for his eyes.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a left ankle disability that is attributable to military service or caused by his previously service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and a bilateral knee disability, finding that the knee disabilities are secondary to the ankle disabilities. The effective dates have not been determined as they have not been adjudicated by the RO.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints and a right shoulder disability, but further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board found that the appellant's carpal tunnel syndrome and disability manifested by swollen fingers, ankles, and hands were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The Board concluded that these conditions preexisted service and were not aggravated therein.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability related to his subjective complaints of memory loss or residuals of left ankle injury. Service connection for these conditions is denied as there is no evidence of an inservice occurrence and no medical nexus linking the current disabilities to service.

The veteran's hypertension, hemorrhoids (anal fissures), and right ankle injury were all found to be related to his military service. He is now rated at 10 percent for his sinus disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left knee or left ankle disabilities, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The right ankle disability was diagnosed during service but is currently not giving the veteran any problems.

The veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, left ankle disability at 10 percent, and bronchial asthma at 30 percent. The veteran does not have a service connection for his right hip or knee disabilities. His initial rating for the thoracolumbar spine disability was denied, as were his requests for increased ratings for the left ankle and bronchial asthma.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral chronic deep vein thrombosis, arthritis of the left foot and right foot due to frostbite injury, as well as arthritis of the left ankle and right ankle due to frostbite injury. The evidence did not show these conditions were incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board has remanded the case for readjudication of the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, hip, ankle, hand, and wrist disorders on the basis of all evidence of record and governing legal authority. The AMC must consider both pre- and post-October 10, 2006 regulatory changes to 38 C.F.R. � 3.310.

The Board finds that the veteran's current aching joints, muscle cramps, and left ankle pain are not service-connected. However, by resolving all doubts in favor of the veteran, the residuals of his left ankle sprain sustained during service are granted.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence of current chronic conditions for the claimed disabilities and denied service connection for all issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to reopening a claim for service connection of residuals of a right ankle injury. The veteran must provide new and material evidence that his right ankle problems were incurred in or aggravated by service.