Ankle decisions — 2008

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for ankylosis of the right ankle, finding that the evidence did not show frequent hospitalization or marked interference with employment.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ankle disability. The veteran's current hearing loss is not related to noise exposure during service, and his current tinnitus is more likely due to post-service noise exposure and age. The right ankle disability claim requires additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and right ankle arthritis. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA Board found that the veteran's bilateral ankle disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and arthritis related to the ankles is not shown to have been manifested either in service or within one year after separation from service.

The Board found no evidence of a service injury or incident that caused the veteran's current low back disorder and right ankle disorder, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, right ankle disabilities, and back disabilities due to a lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's left ankle disorder was not incurred in or related to his period of honorable service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The RO assigned a 20 percent rating for residuals of right ankle fracture, but did not grant the requested higher initial or staged ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of both knees or service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of chronic disabilities such as dizziness or ankle disorders that were incurred in service. The veteran's current symptoms are not related to his military service.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the initial increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbar strain, carpal tunnel syndrome (left and right wrists), left ankle, and hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The veteran does not have a current right ankle or tibia/fibula disability related to his military service.,There is no evidence of a current residual disability from the in-service right tibia/fibula fracture.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic lung disorder and degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active service or service-connected disabilities. The veteran's current diagnoses were not shown to be related to his in-service illness.,Service connection was also denied for osteoarthritis of the right hip as there was no formal or informal claim received prior to February 22, 2007.

The veteran's right ankle tendonitis claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent was denied.,His low back condition claim, reopened due to new evidence, was also denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right ankle ligament reconstruction and left ankle sprain disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes. The veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and service connection were denied. The VA found that his migraine headaches, osteoarthritis of the right ankle, asthma, allergic rhinitis with sinusitis, hypertension, residuals of a nose fracture, anemia, diverticulosis, and narcissistic personality disorder did not warrant increased ratings or service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right foot injury, residuals of a right ankle injury, and gastroenteritis as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder. The claim for GERD is pending.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, a bilateral leg disability (shin splints and restless leg syndrome), and did not address the issue of a sleep disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle disability and scar of the left ankle, finding that the evidence did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent for the left ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for tinea versicolor and a right ankle strain, finding that the veteran had not submitted new and material evidence to reopen his claims.