Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disorder is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for updated examination and VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the appellant's claim for service connection for residuals of a right ankle fracture. The RO previously denied this claim in September 2003, finding that the appellant's pre-existing right ankle fracture did not become aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the neck, knees and feet have been granted. The claim for service connection for arthritis of the ankles has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, right ankle disorder, right knee disorder, right hip disorder, and low back disorder (sciatica) have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the claim for an increased rating has been granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the right ankle is service-connected, as it is consistent with a traumatic injury sustained during active service.

The Veteran was not shown to have a current left ankle disability that is related to his military service.,The Veteran was not shown to have a current bilateral foot disability that is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for erectile dysfunction was not substantiated due to lack of evidence of penile deformity, while the right ankle disability claim was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot and bilateral ankle disabilities, finding that new evidence supports a direct relationship between these conditions and his service-connected left great toe disability. The Board also found in favor of the Veteran regarding his service-connected left foot arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle and back disabilities are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated as 20% disabling. The Board denied a higher rating, but the claim remains open for further evidence.,New and material evidence has not been received to reopen claims of service connection for chronic respiratory conditions (asbestosis and asthma) or degenerative arthritis of all joints. The Veteran's PTSD claim was reopened.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased schedular ratings for his service-connected left ankle disability and bilateral foot disability, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Board also remanded other issues related to these claims.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was granted effective January 18, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating prior to March 18, 2004, for his right ankle injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, a bilateral eye disability, hypertension, and residuals of dental trauma. The claim for an initial compensable rating for GERD was granted with a noncompensable evaluation effective June 16, 2006. The claim for an initial compensable rating for chronic left ankle sprain was granted with a noncompensable evaluation effective June 16, 2006. The claim for an increased rating for chronic right ankle sprain was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for recurrent instability of the right ankle is denied as the earliest possible effective date is August 31, 2004.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right ankle disability, thus denying the reopening of the claim.