Ankle decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder as it was not etiologically related to his service or a service-connected disability, including a right knee disorder.

The appeal was partially granted, as new and material evidence was found to reopen the claim for a right knee disability. However, service connection was not established for the right knee or bilateral ankle conditions.

The veteran's bilateral foot disorder was rated at 30 percent, while the right and left ankle disorders did not meet criteria for ratings higher than 20 percent. An earlier effective date for service connection was denied.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent, and his left ankle disability was rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various injuries have been remanded to provide him with a travel board hearing.

The veteran's residuals of fractures of the right tibia and fibula with traumatic arthritis of the right ankle are rated at 20 percent, but not higher. Service connection for left knee disability was denied.

The veteran's post-operative residuals of a right ankle fracture have not included ankylosis during the appellate term, and therefore, a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Board remands the claim for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to determine the etiology of any current left ankle disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating and service connection for various conditions, as they were not supported by the evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his left ankle disorder with postoperative scar is being remanded to provide him with proper notice and a new examination.

The veteran's claims for initial disability ratings greater than 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis and residuals of a right ankle sprain with chronic lateral instability were denied.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral ankle arthritis secondary to the veteran's service-connected spinal disabilities, finding it as likely as not that the disability was caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the veteran's current condition was related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied service connection for a left great toe, left leg, left foot/ankle, pelvis, and low back disabilities as there was no evidence of a current disability related to the veteran's active service.

The veteran's service-connected chronic sprain, left ankle, with avulsion fracture, anterior tibia is rated as 20 percent disabling due to marked limitation of motion.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for multiple joint arthritis to provide adequate notice of what is necessary to substantiate a claim of secondary service connection.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder was rated at 50 percent, and his right ankle sprain was rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for a left foot dorsum soft tissue mass and residuals of right heel and ankle pressure sores, as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury was remanded to the Board of Veterans' Appeals for further development, including an examination and medical opinion.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for chondromalacia of the left knee and denied increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, duodenal ulcer with gastroesophageal reflux disease, and scar of the left ankle.