Ankle decisions — 2012

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle disability and has granted it, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted and that the condition is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, diabetes mellitus, and heart condition. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus and DJD of the bilateral ankles, finding that his pre-existing pes planus did not become aggravated by military service. The DJD was also determined not to be related to or aggravated by any service-connected disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral ankle disability is etiologically related to her active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that there is no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability and her active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right ankle disability and low back disability have been remanded by the Board. The right ankle disability claim has been reopened, but the low back disability claim remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing pes planus worsened beyond natural progression during his active service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to address the claims of service connection for various right hand, elbow, shoulder, ankle, and first metatarsal disorders. The examiner will provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or any other etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle and right knee disorders are not related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is associated with secondary disabilities of the left knee, feet, and ankles. The initial evaluation for his right knee chondromalacia patella remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's left ankle disorder is found to be service-connected, and hypertension is denied as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is etiologically related to active service, while his left ankle disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral ankle disability, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability. The decision concluded that there was no evidence linking these disabilities to his military service.

The VA determined that the appellant does not have a current disability related to his left ankle injury sustained during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral wrist, knee, and ankle disorders. However, she does not have a current gynecological disability associated with her miscarriage in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right ankle fracture and right leg disability did not have their clinical onset in service or are otherwise related to active duty. The Board also found no evidence of arthritis within one year post-service, which would allow for a presumption of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to locate the Veteran's service treatment records and obtain any relevant VA outpatient records.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left ankle was incurred during his second period of active duty in the Air Force from July 1958 to July 1962, and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left knee and right ankle disabilities were denied by the Board. The initial rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee was found to be 10 percent, with no higher rating warranted. For patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, a separate 10 percent rating was granted. Regarding the fracture of the right ankle with osteoarthritis, a combined 20 percent rating was assigned. The Veteran's claims for temporary total disability ratings due to surgery on his knees were also denied.

The Veteran's right pectoralis strain is currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 7, 2004. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects his disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions are related to service. The rating assigned is 100%.