Ankle decisions — 2009

The Veteran's bilateral ankle and hip disabilities are not service connected, nor are they secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. His right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations, finding that new evidence did not reopen his earlier claim for a prior effective date. The Veteran's low back disability was found to be less than severely disabling, and no direct or secondary incurrence of left knee or leg/ankle disorders were established.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding service treatment records and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to ensure compliance with VA's duty to notify and assist, including obtaining private medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the hips, bilateral; arthritis of the left knee; and residuals of a compression fracture of vertebra T12. Service connection for arthritis of the ankles, bilateral, and arthritis of the feet, bilateral, is denied as not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding service connection and aggravation of hearing loss and right ankle conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and bilateral hearing loss, as both claims were previously denied on the merits.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, arthritis of the knees, ankles, elbows, and hands, and bilateral hearing loss were all denied. The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for PTSD due to lack of corroborated stressor events. For arthritis, no current diagnosis was provided in the record. For hearing loss, a compensable rating could not be assigned as the Veteran's hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for an exceptional pattern.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current right ankle condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injuries. The secondary claim was moot due to the grant of direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% evaluation for residuals of his right ankle fracture was granted, with the effective date set at May 21, 2002.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and did not address the effective dates of awards for left and right ankle strains.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and cyst removal residuals, were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability manifested by loss of motion in the left arm, foot, leg, or ankle during service or for many years after service. The Veteran's current symptoms are not related to his in-service injury and there is no medical opinion linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's anxiety/depression disability was manifested during active duty service and the Board has determined that it is incurred in line of duty. The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability, as diagnosed, is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities or residuals from injuries sustained during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of fracture of the left ankle are productive of no more than slight ankle disability, characterized by a functional loss due to pain. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent was denied.

The Veteran's chronic left ankle joint pain is presumed to have been incurred due to an undiagnosed illness during his service in the Gulf War. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied all claims for service connection.