Ankle Board decisions

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability, effective from June 26, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for traumatic arthritis of the left ankle with disuse osteoporosis is granted. The claim for service connection for lumbar strain as secondary to traumatic arthritis, left ankle with disuse osteoporosis is also granted.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a current left ankle disorder and denied her claim for service connection. The right ankle disorder is currently being reviewed as part of the remand process.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a qualifying chronic disability for left ankle or left wrist, and his claimed disabilities are not related to service. The claims for increased ratings for cervical spine, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, right ring finger, GERD with hiatal hernia, left inguinal hernia, left orchiectomy, and right epididymal cyst have been addressed.

The Veteran's left ankle fracture and PTSD with major depression are currently rated at the maximum available ratings, and no higher evaluations are warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and needs to obtain service treatment records, emergency room records, and any other relevant medical records. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, cervical spine disability, right ankle strain, left wrist cyst, and bronchial asthma will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, low back disorder, and left foot pain were denied. The claim for the left ankle disorder was reopened but remained denied on the merits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, hands, vision, or ankylosis of knees or hips. Therefore, the criteria for VA financial assistance are not met.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated, and the Board has determined that a higher disability rating is not warranted for any of his claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed knee, left shoulder, and right ankle disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not establish a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, which is considered secondary to his service-connected right great toe condition. The evidence received after the July 2003 decision does not show a current right ankle disability related to his active military service or his service-connected right foot disability.

The Veteran claims a right ankle disability was incurred in service, but the evidence is unclear and conflicting. The Board has decided to remand the case for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and procedural defects, including a lack of initial RO consideration of new evidence submitted after the hearing. The Veteran is requested to provide information on all medical care providers who treated him for his left foot and left ankle disorder, particularly Dr. C.E.B.'s records from February 2000 onwards. An appropriate VA examination must be arranged to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's asserted left foot and left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed right ankle, right shoulder, and fracture of the right 5th metatarsal disorders. The claims are also being remanded for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected degenerative disc disease, L5-S1, with radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected left ankle disability, bilateral hand disabilities, and right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee condition is service-connected due to an injury sustained during active duty. The claim for a left ankle condition, which was secondary to his right foot disability, cannot be granted as there is no confirmed diagnosis of a current left ankle disorder.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there is no current diagnosis and noting that these disabilities are not shown to be related to service.

The Board finds that the reduction of the Veteran's rating for osteoarthritis of the right ankle from 20 percent to 10 percent was proper based on medical evidence showing normal range of motion.

The Board found no current evidence of head, facial, right hand, or ankle disabilities and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for partial amputation of the left fourth finger and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the left leg have been denied. The remaining claims for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle arthralgia have all been granted.