Ankle decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and ankle disabilities, as well as back and neck conditions, were denied by the RO in March 1975. The Board has not reopened these claims due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's left ankle scar, residual of shrapnel fragment wound, finding no limitation of function and thus not warranting a compensable rating.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Maryland and New York, providing proper notice as required by Kent v. Nicholson, and readjudicating the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected asthma and right ankle sprain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment or medical findings.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral knee and ankle arthritis are not service connected as they did not manifest within one year of discharge from service, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty. The medical evidence does not support a finding that the disabilities are related to his service-connected residuals of burns to heels, feet, and ankles.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, a left ankle condition, and a right ankle condition due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic amputation of the thumb and all fingers of the major hand, left ankle fracture with arthritis, and residuals of a brain concussion were denied as there is no evidence of additional disability beyond what is currently rated.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability due to lack of new and material evidence, as no current right ankle disability was shown.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right leg disability (claimed as residual of right ankle injury), and bipolar disorder. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a current disability or establish that these conditions are related to military service.

The veteran's low back, right knee, and right ankle disorders were not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The right ankle condition is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, the left wrist condition as 10 percent disabling, and the bursitis of the elbow as 10 percent disabling. Tinea pedis does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable evaluation for his right shoulder disability and left ankle scar.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to his current conditions.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left ankle disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic left ankle disability, finding that the veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, a right ankle disorder, and status post total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for the right knee.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records.