Ankle Board decisions

The Board remanded the case for additional development to determine if any current arthritis or degenerative joint disease of the shoulders, elbows, hands, knees, or ankles is due to service-connected low back strain.

The appeal is remanded for the Veteran to be scheduled for an in-person hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the Portland, Oregon RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip and leg disability was reopened, but ultimately denied. The claims for service connection for tailbone, waist, and left ankle disabilities were also denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for a TDIU rating, finding that the evidence did not show unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to November 20, 2006.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, but denied service connection for right and left ankle, hip, and knee disabilities, as well as a fungal infection of the ears. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's gout disability was granted a rating of 60 percent, effective May 13, 2008, due to severe exacerbations occurring multiple times over a prolonged period.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, right ankle disability to include Achilles tendonitis, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability as there was no competent medical evidence of current disabilities or sufficient evidence to support a finding that the pre-existing conditions were aggravated during active service.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a fragment wound, left ankle with arthritis and limitation of motion; a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a fragment wound of the left foot with neuropathy; a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a fragment wound with metallic densities, right ankle with limitation of motion; and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of fragment wound of the right foot with neuropathy to obtain additional evidence.

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for residuals of a right ankle sprain prior to February 27, 2004, and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent from February 27, 2004.

The veteran's initial rating for post-operative status of the left ankle was denied, but a separate 10 percent rating was granted for a superficial scar on the lateral left ankle.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and low back pain as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The appeal for an increased rating for the left wrist disability was denied as the Veteran's current disability level did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the heel spur, right foot and service connection for a bilateral ankle condition.

The Veteran's post-traumatic arthritis of the left ankle is rated at 20 percent, but his right ankle remains at 20 percent without further increase.

The Veteran's left foot and ankle disability is service-connected.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence related to the Veteran's claim for service connection for avulsion fracture, left ankle (also claimed as soft tissue overuse injury resulting in venous statis ulcer).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury, as there was no evidence that such condition was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as there was no evidence to support a higher rating or that any of the claimed conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran was not service-connected for a disability rated as 100 percent disabling for at least 10 years immediately preceding his death, and therefore the appellant is not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's bilateral elbow, knee, ankle and foot disorders, a skin disorder, and a right shoulder disorder as they were not incurred in or aggravated by service.