Ankle decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right ankle disorder, residuals of a right wrist injury, a GSW to the abdomen, peptic ulcer disease, hypertension, bilateral knee and hip arthritis, and a back disorder.

The Board remands the case for further development, specifically to obtain a more detailed VA examination addressing the nature and etiology of each currently present chronic disorder.

The claim for service connection for arthritis of both hips was reopened, but the veteran's disability rating for postoperative residuals of left ankle fracture with traumatic arthritis remained at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, schizophrenia (previously evaluated as a personality disorder), bilateral tinnitus, low back disability, left ankle disability, chronic kidney failure, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, Type II, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation and no medical nexus to service.

The Board granted service connection for a mood disorder as secondary to the veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder, finding that it was not aggravated during his military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right foot and ankle disability to obtain additional evidence, including a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet, kidney disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and tinnitus as there is no competent evidence linking any of these conditions to active service or herbicide exposure.

The veteran's injuries related to his March 12, 1968, motor vehicle accident were not incurred in the line of duty and service connection for residuals of a fracture of the left femur, right ankle, and an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied.

The appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of the service-connected conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for muscle injury, status post shell fragment wounds to the right leg with retained fragments and status post shell fragment wound to the left ankle were denied as the clinical manifestations of these conditions are no more than moderate in severity.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and bilateral ankle disorder as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition, and no medical nexus to his current conditions.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury, as the veteran does not currently have a left ankle disability related to his active military service.

The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for right knee chondromalacia and a 10 percent evaluation for residuals of chip fracture, left medial malleolus with post-traumatic arthritis from August 5, 2003. The claims for increased ratings for the veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease and cervical spine condition were denied.

The appeal for an earlier effective date prior to September 3, 2004 for the grant of service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood was denied as a matter of law.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disease of the right and left ankles are being remanded to obtain additional evidence.

The appeal for service connection for a left ankle disability and the current left ankle disability to include residuals of sprain was denied due to lack of evidence supporting continuity of symptomatology or a nexus between the current condition and service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left ankle disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board denied eligibility for VA medical care and related benefits provided by 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17 for treatment of the appellant's right ankle, left ankle, back, and left foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated during active service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, and shoulder disabilities as there was no evidence of a current disability.