Ankle decisions — 2008

The veteran's tinnitus was related to noise exposure in service.

The veteran's ankle disability is not manifested by ankylosis, malunion of the os calcis or astragalus, astragalectomy, or marked limitation of motion. Therefore, a higher rating than 10 percent is not warranted.

The appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and SSA records.

The veteran's right knee arthritis was rated at 20 percent, and the residuals of his right ankle injury were not rated in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran was granted initial evaluations of 10 percent for lower back disability with surgical scar and right ankle disability, but the appeal for a left knee disability was remanded.

The veteran's left shoulder and left ankle disabilities are not related to injuries sustained during his active military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and to reopen his claim for a left knee disability were remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disorders, as well as right and left ankle disorders, finding no evidence of a direct link to service or aggravation by his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for various disabilities were denied, as the evidence did not support ratings in excess of those currently assigned.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's left ulna, foot, and ankle disabilities as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The veteran's cervical spondylosis and lumbar spondylosis were granted increased ratings to 20 percent, while the other conditions remained at 10 percent.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for residuals of a left foot injury, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the current condition and his active duty or ACDUTRA.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, a bilateral ankle disorder, and major depressive disorder are being remanded for further development.

The appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling of a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the Houston, Texas VARO.

The veteran withdrew the appeal before the Board promulgated a decision.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, bilateral tinnitus, right ankle disability, and cervical spine disability as there was no medical evidence of a nexus between these conditions and the veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for idiopathic thrombocytopenia, hypertension, psychiatric disability/PTSD, alcoholism, left ankle disability, headaches, bilateral hand disability, and bilateral leg disability as they were not related to the veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an acquired psychiatric disorder, manifested by depression, and a left ankle disability. The claim to reopen for Hepatitis C was also denied.

The veteran's residuals of a left ankle sprain with post traumatic arthritis and calcaneal spur did not meet the criteria for an increased rating prior to April 18, 2006, or from that date forward.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the previous denial did not provide a medical nexus linking the veteran's left ankle disorder to his active service, and therefore denied reopening of the claim.