Ankle decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and further efforts are required to obtain these records.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right ankle disability, right shoulder disability, or bilateral hearing loss that is related to service. The Veteran's current disabilities are not considered service-connected.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for chronic bilateral hip disorder, low back disorder, and right foot disorder secondary to left ankle fracture. However, these claims were ultimately denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between the claimed conditions and active military service.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding records and incomplete VCAA notice.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of right ankle sprain was denied by the Board. The RO initially granted a 20 percent rating in April 2003, effective July 15, 2002.

The Board has granted service connection for right shin splints and right ankle tendonitis, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia of the knees.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several service-connected disabilities have been withdrawn. The Board does not have jurisdiction to decide these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any current right ankle and/or foot disorder is related to service. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a right foot injury, to include a right ankle disability, will be adjudicated on the merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hyperaldosteronism, chronic right ankle arthritic disorder, chronic left ankle arthritic disorder, chronic right hand arthritic disorder, chronic left hand arthritic disorder, and chronic bronchitis. The evidence did not support current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle disability, at least in part, is related to his service and has granted service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is less than total, but the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service connected disorders have not been met. The preponderance of evidence shows that the Veteran is unemployable primarily as a result of the residual disability associated with his nonservice connected cerebrovascular accident.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, which has been rated as 10 percent disabling since 1987, is now rated at 30 percent due to severe limitation of motion and pain.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a right ankle disability during service and there is no medical evidence linking his current right ankle condition to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right elbow disorder, a back disorder, and residuals of a right leg fracture due to lack of competent medical evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and his active military service.,There is no current disability at issue in this appeal.

The Veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation training is being remanded due to the need to determine if her employment handicap exists, which may affect her eligibility. Her left ankle arthritis disability is also under consideration.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including a clarifying medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any left ankle disorder that may be present.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and bilateral ankle conditions, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and a right ankle disability, as well as her claim for TDIU. The denial of these claims is final.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to issues related to service connection and rating of knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle fracture occurred during a period of dishonorable service and is not related to his honorable active duty. As such, he cannot be granted service connection for residuals of a right ankle fracture.