Ankle decisions — 2007

The RO granted a 10% rating for service-connected residuals of right ankle fracture effective July 18, 2003. The veteran also received an earlier effective date of September 21, 2001.

The case is being remanded for further development and evaluation of the veteran's claims, including whether the left knee should be service connected on a direct basis and the right knee on a secondary basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, and also found that he did not have a current right leg or foot disability other than post-operative residuals of fractures of the distal tibia and fibula with fixation of the right ankle.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection of degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, cervical spine, and lumbar spine. The evidence shows that these conditions were aggravated by in-service injuries.,Service connection is granted for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, cervical spine, and lumbar spine as they are considered to have been aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral ankle and low back disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The veteran withdrew his appeal for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's left ankle disability to 20 percent and for his right great toe bunion to 10 percent, effective May 25, 2006.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neurological disability of the right hand and for higher ratings for bilateral pes planus, major depression, and knee and ankle disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ankle disability and granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, but found no current evidence of a low back or vision disability. The veteran's claims are pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, residuals of a disability manifested by passing out during physical training, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and osteoarthritis of the right ankle have been denied. Service connection was granted for hypertension.

The Board has received a withdrawal of the appeal from the appellant's representative, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right shoulder impingement syndrome, left and right ankle tendonitis, and arthritis of the ankles. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to service or warranted increased disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of Hepatitis C or an eye disorder. The right ankle disability was found to be incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a right shoulder or right ankle disability and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, as well as reopening of several previously denied claims. The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development and consideration.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the veteran's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including colon cancer and COPD, all of which were attributed to asbestos exposure. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any other inservice event.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and requests for additional evidence.

The Board found that service connection is not warranted for a low back, bilateral leg (including left ankle), or bilateral knee disability. The veteran's claims of service connection for a headache disability are remanded.

The Board found no current low back or right ankle disability and denied service connection for these conditions. The veteran's bilateral patellofemoral syndrome was not shown to be related to service, but the RO awarded a noncompensable evaluation effective from the day following his discharge from service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new orthopedic examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected right ankle disability.