Ankle decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current arthritis of the feet and ankles did not have its onset during active service and is not etiologically related to active service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination to evaluate his left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a separate evaluation of left ankle laxity, which is currently rated as part of bilateral pes planus. The veteran should be notified and given an opportunity to respond.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral knee, shoulder, and ankle disorders are not related to his active service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, and pes planus disabilities are pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a right ankle disability, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle and degenerative joint disease of the left knee, finding that these conditions are related to service. Service connection was denied for left hip and left leg disabilities due to lack of diagnosed conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims can be decided.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability and ankle fractures were not rated higher than the initial assigned ratings of 40 percent for the low back condition, and 10 percent each for the left and right ankle conditions.

The Board has granted the veteran's petitions to reopen her claims for service connection for right hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, low back disability, and right foot disability. The Board found that these disabilities are proximately due to her service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board found no evidence of a current left ankle disorder and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected left ankle disability, finding that the current 20 percent rating adequately reflects his symptoms and impairment.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the clinical onset of the veteran's multiple sclerosis and right ankle disability, as these claims are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Board found no evidence of a right ankle disorder related to service and denied the veteran's claims for service connection. The veteran was also denied initial compensable evaluations for his tendonitis and strain of the right knee, as well as cold-induced urticaria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting low back disorder was aggravated by service, and thus service connection is granted for this condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and frostbite residuals were denied as there was no current disability found to be related to his military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for left knee and ankle conditions that he claims are secondary to his service-connected residuals of a fracture to the left foot. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current diagnoses are related to service or her service-connected depression.