Ankle Board decisions

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected right ankle fracture, reducing the previous 40 percent rating. The maximum allowable under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disorder and found that new and material evidence has been received. The left ankle and right hip disorders are not considered to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is attributable to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, bilateral foot disability, edema of ankles, knees and hands, and dental condition are not due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims were denied as secondary service connection is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition and left ankle condition were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial 20 percent disability rating for lumbar strain myositis but not higher. His claim for an increased rating for his right knee status post meniscal repair and anterior cruciate ligament rupture, with residual pain was denied. Service connection for hepatitis C was also denied. He was denied a compensable rating for bilateral tinnitus and for bilateral, moderate, sensorineural hearing loss.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle condition and right shoulder disability were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial 10 percent disability rating for status post repair of rotator cuff and labral tear and impingement syndrome of the right shoulder but not higher. His claim for hepatitis C was also denied. He was denied a compensable rating for bilateral tinnitus and for bilateral, moderate, sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder condition, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder due to the lack of evidence of current disabilities. The Veteran's claims for hernia condition and hearing loss are pending as additional development is required.,Service records indicate possible onset of an umbilical hernia during service, but further medical examination is needed to confirm this potential relationship.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and right foot disabilities are being remanded due to the unavailability of in-service medical records. The RO is instructed to attempt to obtain these records, including any hospitalization reports from Panama and treatment records from a private facility in Minneapolis.

The Board found that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied as there was no factually ascertainable increase in disability prior to October 3, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for left ankle disability and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. However, the Veteran's crepitus is not related to his service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disorder, diagnosed as varicosities and chronic ligamentous strain, finding that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ankle pain did not have its onset during active service or result from disease or injury in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for ankle pain is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of amputation or significant disability in the left small finger, right ankle fracture, compression fracture of the lumbar spine, or left knee injury. Service connection was not granted due to lack of evidence of a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and for further consideration of his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left ankle disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and psychiatric disorder were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found no current disabilities for the claimed conditions and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between any of these conditions and active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed residuals of a left foot and ankle injury with fracture are not caused or aggravated by her service-connected lower extremity musculoskeletal and bilateral knee disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage criteria for a TDIU rating, but further examination is needed to determine if he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of benefits in any of the issues.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle injury is currently rated at 20 percent, which represents the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5271. The VA examiner found marked limitation of motion in the left ankle but no ankylosis or other significant impairment.