Ankle decisions — 2009

The veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disorders were remanded. The Board denied an initial evaluation greater than 10 percent for left hip bursitis but granted a 20 percent evaluation for low back myofascial strain beginning March 30, 2006.

The Veteran's hypertension, bunion of the right and left great toes, bilateral hearing loss, heart disorder, cervical disorder, lumbar disorder, left shoulder disorder, bilateral elbow disorder, left ankle disorder, bilateral hip disorder, right knee disorder, and hepatitis B were denied.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disability, right ankle disability, bilateral leg disability, sinus disability, depression, headaches, and gynecological disability as there was no evidence of chronic conditions during or after service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability causes marked interference with his employment, but this interference is adequately compensated by the currently assigned 30 percent disability evaluation.

The Board remands the case to the AMC/RO for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records of private treatment since December 2002.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating or establish that her claimed conditions were related to service or secondary to her service-connected right knee disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU as there was no evidence of a chronic disability related to his military service or secondary to his diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left ankle disability and service connection for cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, and right ankle disabilities were denied as the evidence did not support an increase in severity or a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder was denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or that the current condition is related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and right knee disorder as they were not shown to be related to the Veteran's active duty or secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder as there was no evidence of a current disability at any time during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected orthopedic conditions are being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of these disabilities.

The Board grants service connection for tinnitus and remands the claims for increased ratings and additional service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and left ankle disorder as they were not etiologically related to active service or a service-connected disability.

The claim for service connection for lumbar spine stenosis with radiculopathy was reopened, and a rating of 30 percent was assigned for the left ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral leg disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and hearing loss. The claim for service connection for headaches was also denied. However, new and material evidence was found to reopen the claim for a bilateral knee disorder.

The appeal is remanded for additional evidence and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities, the etiology of her left ankle disability, and to provide proper notice regarding increased rating claims.

The Board remands the case for a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused unemployability.

The evidence does not show that the Veteran currently suffers from a chronic right or left ankle disorder, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran was granted a 10 percent disability rating for his left and right knee, and left and right ankle disabilities effective from February 24, 2006, to November 12, 2007.