Ankle decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ankle arthritis and left knee disability are related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his fractures of the right and left talus. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered primary to his military service.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for a right elbow disorder and nonallergic rhinitis (sinus disorder), but not for the claimed bilateral knee disorders, cervical spine disorder, lumbosacral spine disorder, left hip ganglion cyst, left foot disorder, right ankle disorder, head concussion injury residuals, or vertigo.

The Veteran's service-connected recurrent left ankle sprain is manifested by complaints of chronic pain, weakness, stiffness, swelling, instability, giving away, and tenderness. Objective examination shows minimal limitation of motion on plantar flexion and full range of motion on dorsiflexion.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder was not caused or aggravated by her service-connected interdigital neuroma of the right and left foot, nor did it manifest during military service. Therefore, she is not entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the loss of his claims file. The VA needs to rebuild the evidence file and request any additional medical records from the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's throat cancer is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, residuals of right ankle injury, and right foot disability. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for muscle and joint pain due to an undiagnosed illness is denied as there are no diagnosed illnesses found.,Service connection for bilateral elbow tendinitis is denied as the condition was not incurred during active duty.

The VA has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disorder is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for updated examination and VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the appellant's claim for service connection for residuals of a right ankle fracture. The RO previously denied this claim in September 2003, finding that the appellant's pre-existing right ankle fracture did not become aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the neck, knees and feet have been granted. The claim for service connection for arthritis of the ankles has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, right ankle disorder, right knee disorder, right hip disorder, and low back disorder (sciatica) have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the claim for an increased rating has been granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the right ankle is service-connected, as it is consistent with a traumatic injury sustained during active service.

The Veteran was not shown to have a current left ankle disability that is related to his military service.,The Veteran was not shown to have a current bilateral foot disability that is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for erectile dysfunction was not substantiated due to lack of evidence of penile deformity, while the right ankle disability claim was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot and bilateral ankle disabilities, finding that new evidence supports a direct relationship between these conditions and his service-connected left great toe disability. The Board also found in favor of the Veteran regarding his service-connected left foot arthritis.