Ankle decisions — 2007

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for right ankle sprain and lower back pain due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for lower back pain was reopened, but service connection was not established.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the right ankle does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his calcifications right ankle, status post fracture and healed fracture right tibia, as well as service connection for a right knee disorder secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for his right ankle condition but not for his right knee disorder.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left arm pain, right ankle and right foot conditions, and hiatal hernia as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back injuries, leg and ankle injuries, knee injuries, hypertension, multiple joint pain, stomach disorders, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence submitted since the March 2003 decision is not new and material.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected, and thus denied all of his claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for her bilateral lower extremity disability, limitation of motion of the right and left ankles, bilateral pes planus, gastrocnemius equinus (tight heel cord) of the left leg, and gastrocnemius equinus (tight heel cord) of the right leg. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of these areas prior to March 9, 2007.

The Board has denied service connection for a herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine with radiation to the lower extremities, but granted service connection for a left ankle disorder.

The VA has granted a separate 10 percent rating for each of the veteran's service-connected hands and left ankle disabilities, based on arthritis with painful motion.

The veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant were denied as he does not meet the eligibility requirements under the law.

The Board found no evidence of a left ankle disability in service and denied the claim as there is insufficient medical evidence to link any current disability to service.

The Board denied service connection for hypothyroidism, ulcerative colitis, left ankle degenerative arthrosis and necrosis, and bronchitis. The veteran's hearing loss was also rated as non-compensable.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis have been granted initial ratings. The right foot Achilles tendonitis is rated at 10 percent effective March 27, 2007. The left foot Achilles tendonitis also receives a separate rating of 10 percent from that date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right and left ankle disabilities do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, right ankle disability, shingles, right foot disability, and right wrist disability due to lack of current evidence of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression, bilateral ankle disability, left fifth finger disability, and pes planus. The decision also addressed a claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral pes planus but found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current right ankle disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's right ankle disability, manifested by RSD of the right ankle, is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board found that there was no evidence of ankylosis and thus denied a higher evaluation.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current left ankle disability to her service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and ankle, finding new and material evidence. The VA examiner concluded that there is less than a 50% probability that the arthritis is related to his service-connected right leg injury.