Ankle decisions — 2007

The veteran's initial compensable ratings for residuals of a laceration to the right side of his jaw and fractured right ankle are granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected left ankle chip fracture with degenerative joint disease (DJD) does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for sickle cell anemia was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The issues of entitlement to higher initial evaluations for left knee chondromalacia and residuals of a left ankle sprain with arthritis are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a skin rash of the left ankle and lumbosacral strain are being remanded due to inadequate notice regarding the definition of 'new and material evidence' as it relates to these claims.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, and residuals, right ankle fracture. The case has been remanded to allow additional development.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities (knee, ankle, shoulder, hand, or back) incurred in service and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, chronic right hip disorder, chronic left hip disorder, chronic right ankle disorder, and chronic left ankle disorder. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied claims for service connection for gastrointestinal, low back, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities secondary to the veteran's service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for a new medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's left knee disability is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability and spinal disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left ankle disability, and left knee disability. The veteran was not granted any additional ratings.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture. The Board also finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition, as it is considered incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, heart disease and hypertension, and multiple joint disabilities including a bilateral knee disability, rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints, osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, and a right ankle disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus disability is associated with degenerative arthritis of the hips, knees, ankles, and lumbosacral spine. However, the examiner determined that the bilateral pes planus did not cause the arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is needed.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension did not have its onset in service or is otherwise related to his military service. The right ankle disorder was also denied as it was determined to be due to his service-connected valvular heart disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for weak ankles and a right foot disorder with residuals of a right malleolus fracture was previously denied in July 1970. The current decision is to reopen this claim based on new evidence submitted since the previous denial, but it does not specify whether or not service connection will be granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability originated during active duty and granted service connection for this condition. The right ankle and skin disability issues are pending further action.

The Board found that the current right ankle disability is not related to service, including a reported injury in 1975. The claim for service connection was denied.