Ankle decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder and kidney disease, finding no current disability in service or within one year of service that is related to his military service.

The Veteran's back, ankle, and knee disabilities are not service-connected as they do not have onset in service or within one year of service. The Board finds that the medical evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were caused by military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee, left hip, bilateral ankle, bilateral leg arthritis and gouty arthritis of the feet to include as secondary to the service-connected residuals of frostbite of the hands due to inadequate development in a previous VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus. The initial ratings for degenerative joint disease of various joints have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a currently diagnosed bilateral knee or ankle disability, and his right renal cyst, hypertension, GERD, hiatal hernia with esophagus narrowing and polyps, and deviated left nasal septum are all considered to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disorder and degenerative changes of the right ankle were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right ankle condition.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence and further development is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral ankle disability and eligibility for VA outpatient dental treatment, but denied service connection for his bilateral knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD with a 30% rating, and his left ankle fracture was rated at 10%. No effective date is provided.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, knee, hip, and low back disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hand disability, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, back disability, neck disability, and residuals of right ankle sprain have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied her claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete information and evidence, including the need to obtain SSA records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for traumatic arthritis of the left ankle, secondary to severe sprain and surgery, was granted at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's knee and ankle conditions have been rated based on their current functional limitations. The right ankle strain has resulted in a compensable evaluation since August 1, 2006.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, right knee, and right ankle as secondary to service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the left ankle is currently rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of ankylosis. The Board finds that he does not have ankylosis and thus cannot receive a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including additional VA examinations and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board found that the Veteran's gouty arthritis of the ankles was not related to his active service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral patellofemoral syndrome is granted. The claims for atrial septal defect, bilateral shoulder arthralgia, and synovitis of the right ankle are not addressed as they were not part of the appeal.