Ankle decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left ankle condition was not incurred in or caused by service, and there is no evidence of arthritis within one year following discharge from service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury is denied.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, hypertension and bilateral vision problems are not service-connected, arthritis of the lumbar spine, right ankle disorder, and right shoulder disorder are granted with a 30 percent rating each. Dermatitis was denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to decide the veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and bilateral pes planus. This includes obtaining medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service, as well as any aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Board denied service connection for multiple joint arthritides, finding that the veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service. The initial evaluation of the right wrist fracture was also denied.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The veteran's left ankle sprain residuals are rated at the minimum level of 10%.,The veteran's tonsillitis is not currently productive of any compensable pathology and thus does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability in November 1990. The evidence submitted since then is not new and material, so the claim cannot be reopened.

The veteran's service connected pes cavus is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board denied increased ratings for the bilateral ankle, knee, hip, back, and neck conditions due to lack of evidence supporting a relationship with active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right foot and ankle disability, which was previously denied in November 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, an initial rating for a left ankle disability, and initial compensable ratings for a scar on his left nostril and hemorrhoids due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, low back disability, obesity, right hip disability, left hip disability, left foot disability, and left knee disability have been denied as there is no evidence of a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, low back disability, obesity, right hip disability, left hip disability, left foot disability, and left knee/ankle disabilities. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's increased rating claims for his service-connected left ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD. Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including determining if the veteran had periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) or in-active duty training (INACDUTRA), and whether any current back, left ankle, or knee disabilities are related to such service.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for post-traumatic arthritis of the right ankle, based on limitation of motion with pain.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further examination to determine if any current left or right ankle conditions are related to service.

The veteran's right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain, and left knee sprain have been granted service connection with initial 10 percent ratings effective June 20, 2004.,Service connection for adductor tendonitis of the left hip and allergic rhinitis and sinusitis has also been granted but without any compensable rating assigned.,The veteran's left knee sprain remains unassigned a compensable rating.

The veteran's right ankle injury on June 15, 2001 was not an emergency requiring immediate medical attention. The VA determined that the private hospital treatment was not necessary due to the availability of VA facilities and the veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder due to new evidence. The claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee and right ankle pain have been denied as there is no evidence that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.