Ankle decisions — 2008

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected left posterior tibia with synovitis, left ankle disability as it did not find that the condition warranted a rating higher than the current 20 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and a left ankle disorder, but granted service connection for tinnitus with a 10% disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including bilateral hearing loss, left knee and ankle disabilities, or poor blood circulation in the legs. The claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service medical records and a need for further VA medical records. The claim will be reopened if new and material evidence is submitted.

The veteran's combined evaluation for compensation purposes was determined to be in excess of the requested levels, with some adjustments made based on specific disability ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee or leg disability, degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, and degenerative joint disease of the low back. The veteran's assertions were not considered competent evidence to establish a nexus between his current conditions and active service.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for various knee, femur, ankle and foot disabilities were granted. The RO assigned the appropriate disability ratings based on the severity of his symptoms as determined by VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed lumbar spondylosis, cervical spondylosis, and right ankle strain are not service-connected as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year thereafter. The VA examination reports do not support a finding of in-service incurrence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities make it impossible for him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting a total rating based upon individual unemployability.

The veteran seeks service connection for a right ankle disability, which he claims was incurred during active duty. The claim is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and service personnel records.

The veteran's hemangioma of the left ankle was rated at 10 percent prior to August 7, 2003; from August 7, 2003, through August 18, 2004, it was rated at 20 percent; and since August 19, 2004, the rating remains at 10 percent.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a left ankle fracture are manifested by limitation of range of motion and a disability picture that more nearly approximates that of a marked functional loss due to pain. The Board has assigned a 20 percent rating for the entire period.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic arthritis of the knees, but denied service connection for traumatic arthritis of the ankles.

The Board denied an increased rating for left ankle osteochondral lesion with degenerative joint disease and did not reach the other issues as they are addressed in separate sections.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been denied.,Service connection for right hip osteoarthritis has also been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hip disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, and a bilateral ankle disorder, each to include as secondary to a service-connected low back disability and/or service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The VA determined that the veteran's left ankle degenerative arthritis does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the initial compensable evaluation of the right ankle fracture and all other issues on appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right ankle disability and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The right ankle disability was rated at 20 percent, which is the highest rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes. The GERD was rated at 10 percent, as there were no symptoms that warranted a higher rating.