Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not sustain a left ankle injury during service and therefore cannot establish service connection for residuals of such an injury. The claim for temporary total disability rating due to convalescence is also denied.

The VA has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the appellant's service-connected right ankle fracture, effective August 14, 2008.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current left knee and ankle disorders and his service, and determined that his service-connected right knee disability did not cause or aggravate either disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of shin splints, cervical spine disorder, and right ankle strain with instability and subchondral injury were denied. The claim for low back disability was also denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to February 22, 1999; a rating in excess of 20 percent from February 22, 1999, to January 28, 2003; or a rating in excess of 40 percent as of January 29, 2003. The claim for scar status post excision of pilonidal cyst was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and traumatic arthritis of the right ankle, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the latter claim. The rating decisions denying these claims are final.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to recent relevant treatment records not being associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right ankle disability was denied. For the period prior to December 15, 2004, he was not entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent. Since that date, he is not entitled to a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of residuals of a right ankle injury has been granted. The Board also addressed the evaluation of his disability and found that it should be assigned based on the merits.

The Veteran's chronic right ankle sprain has been manifested by no more than moderate limitation of motion, and a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was evaluated at 30 percent effective April 6, 2006. The Board found that the current evaluation does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating during the periods when she did not receive a temporary total evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to questions regarding whether the Veteran's current ankle and foot disorders are related to service, including pes planus.

The Veteran's right ankle and right foot disabilities have been granted service connection, but the initial ratings assigned are both 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the April 2003 RO decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating any of the claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected left ankle disability, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions for the claimed disabilities and denied service connection for all issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected foot conditions and right ankle pain. The claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for right knee and low back disabilities, which are now pending. The appeal is mixed as some issues have been granted while others were denied or not addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected status post right ankle fracture with osteomyelitis is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has granted a separate rating for osteomyelitis.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased evaluation have been denied. The Board found that the earliest date of claim was September 6, 2001, which is later than the effective dates sought by the Veteran.