Ankle decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected history of a stress fracture did not result in any disability and denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence of any of the claimed disabilities, and therefore service connection for residuals of a broken left ankle, residuals of a broken right ankle, residuals of a back injury, residuals of glass in the left arm, residuals of glass in the right arm, residuals of a broken right hand and finger, bilateral foot disorder, a chronic disorder manifested by fever, a chronic disorder manifested by night sweats, or nosebleeds is denied.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board finds there is no probative evidence of a nexus between the veteran's present right ankle disability and an injury sustained during active service. The claim for service connection for a right ankle disability must be denied.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically including his PTSD, are found to be of such severity as to preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current left ankle or hemorrhoid disabilities and therefore, service connection cannot be granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete information and a need for medical examinations.

The veteran's substantive appeal was not timely filed with respect to the May 2003 rating decision, and as a result, his appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities, to include as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability. The claims of service connection for low back and leg disabilities are pending and will be addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the right knee disability as secondary to the service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right lateral malleolus of the right ankle. The veteran's current right ankle disability is currently evaluated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic arthritis of the right ankle and osteoarthritis of the first MTP joint, right foot. The veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, while his right foot disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle disability, which resulted from a fracture sustained during service, is productive of no more than moderate impairment. As such, an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for urethral stricture and increased ratings for his bilateral ankle disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding of a secondary relationship between the veteran's service-connected ankle arthritis and his urethral stricture.

The veteran's service-connected conditions have been resolved or are not compensable. The initial noncompensable rating for the chip fracture of the left ankle remains in effect, and the ganglion cyst, benign fibroma, and sebaceous cyst on the right wrist, left side of the neck, and left ear canal, respectively, have all resolved.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bipolar disorder, hypertension, left hip condition with arthritis, left ankle disability with arthritis, back disability, headaches, and respiratory disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of this claim, including scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted, but the specific evaluations and effective dates are not specified.,Some issues remain pending as they were not addressed in this decision.