Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a direct or secondary relationship between his current lumbar spine and right hip disorders and his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, internal hemorrhoids, varicose veins of the lower extremities, eczema, left foot cold weather injury residuals, right foot plantar fasciitis, and right foot calcaneal fracture. The reasons provided are that there is no current evidence linking these conditions to service or any other basis for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including left knee and left ankle disabilities, low back disability, lung disorder as a result of asbestos exposure, left hip disability, and residuals of a fracture of the nose. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a 20 percent evaluation is warranted based on moderate limitation of motion. The claim for an increased rating is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic right ankle sprain residuals including arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not caused by his inservice right ankle sprains.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disorder, effective from July 8, 2004.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of a right inguinal hernia, finding that the injury likely occurred during INACDUTRA. The claims for bilateral pes planus and ankle disorders are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated at 20 percent since September 14, 2007. The issue of whether new and material evidence supports reopening a claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is pending.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle and shoulder disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active duty.,The Veteran's service-connected right elbow disability was not found to have caused or aggravated his claimed right shoulder disability.

The VA determined that there is no current evidence of a right ankle disorder and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosis of fibromyalgia is likely related to her service-connected stress fractures and other injuries during boot camp, leading to a favorable decision on her claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability is manifested by no more than marked limitation of motion, and therefore, a rating in excess of 20 percent for post-operative residuals of a right ankle injury is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability was not considered as the appeal is not about service connection at all. The Veteran's increased evaluation claims for his left ankle disability were denied prior to June 25, 2002 and granted with a 40% evaluation from that date onwards.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a right ankle disability as the result of disease or injury incurred in service, and denied his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral ankle, hip, leg, hearing loss, lung disability (other than pulmonary tuberculosis), skin disability, psychiatric disability (PTSD), and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease with history of myocardial infarction and hypertension, as well as left ankle degenerative joint disease and left leg disability, were denied. The Board found that the current disabilities are not attributable to his period of military service.

The Veteran's left ankle disability and depression have been granted service connection, with the former being linked to a service-connected condition (tarsal tunnel syndrome) and the latter being secondary to physical abuse and medical conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for schizophrenia. The issue of service connection for arthritis of the back, knees, ankles, and wrists remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination records from Fresno VAMC. The case will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed low back, left knee, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and right ankle disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service.