Ankle decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed left ankle fracture did not occur during service and is not related to any current disability. As a result, the claim for service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed bilateral elbow, knee, back, and ankle disabilities as they were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ankle disorders as they are not directly related to the veteran's active service or her service-connected knee disabilities.,A temporary total evaluation due to treatment of a service-connected disability was precluded because the veteran is not service-connected for a right ankle disorder.

The veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, pes planus, and tendonitis of the left ankle have been rated as follows: 10 percent for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee; noncompensable for pes planus; and 10 percent for tendonitis of the left ankle. The veteran's claims are granted.

The Board found that the veteran's multiple joint pains, memory loss, and stomach disorder are not related to his service or an undiagnosed illness. The conditions were diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, and chronic gastritis respectively.

The veteran's hiatal hernia has been rated at 30 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 7346.,The right great toe fracture with excision of bone fragments is currently evaluated as noncompensably disabling (zero percent).,The left ring finger fracture with mallet deformity does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,Angioedema has been rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 7118.,Right foot exotosis is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.,Degenerative joint disease of the right ankle is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.,Degenerative joint disease of the left knee and right knee are both currently evaluated at 10 percent.,Degenerative joint disease of the right elbow is not yet rated, but if it meets criteria for a higher evaluation, it would be assigned an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.,The veteran's service-connected disabilities have been granted.

The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease for the left ankle disability and denied service connection. For the left knee disability, the Board also found no evidence linking it to service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis as secondary to his service-connected left ankle and right knee disabilities, as well as increased ratings for his service-connected left ankle and right knee disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current right knee, right ankle, or hepatitis C disabilities and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right ankle and right knee disabilities are not related to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current left ankle disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of performing activities of daily living without regular assistance from another person, and he does not have a single service connected disability rated at 100 percent. The veteran is not substantially confined to his ward or clinic areas because of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of proper VCAA notice.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records and further development of the claims.

The Board found that the veteran's diagnosed degenerative arthritis of the left ankle is not related to his period of service active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has found that none of the claimed conditions are related to service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, thus denying the claim.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's low back and left ankle disabilities, as well as entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.