Ankle Board decisions

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of an oil burn to the right ankle.

The veteran's lumbar and right ankle disabilities were granted increased ratings, while the cervical spine disability was denied an increase. Service connection for a left foot/ankle disorder as secondary to service-connected residuals of fracture of the right distal tibia and right fifth toe was established.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for flatfeet, left knee arthritis, and right ankle disorder as the current 10 percent ratings were found to be appropriate given the severity of his symptoms.

The appeal for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle is being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Board remands the case for additional development to ensure a more accurate assessment of the veteran's right knee and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's residuals of a left ankle fracture, healed, with mild arthritis have been found to involve moderately severe symptoms as of January 18, 2006, warranting a 20 percent rating.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling of a Travel Board hearing at the Veteran's regional office via videoconference.

The Board denied service connection for deep vein thrombosis of the left leg, sleep apnea, and post-traumatic stress disorder as there was no competent medical evidence establishing a link to active service.

The veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 50 percent, while the right ankle remained at 20 percent. The combined rating did not exceed 40 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities were not incurred as a result of any established event, injury, or disease during active duty for training.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of various joints, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The veteran withdrew appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, skin disorder, asbestos exposure, lung disorder, buttocks injury, arthritis of the dorsal spine (claimed as back, left hand, neck, knees, ankles, and legs), pes planus, refractive error, cystitis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, left shoulder, enlarged heart, and compression fracture, T3-8.

The Veteran was granted a 60 percent rating for the prosthetic right knee effective September 1, 2001, but higher ratings are not warranted for other conditions.

The Board concluded that the weight of the evidence is against a grant of service connection for residuals of a frostbite injury in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a disability of the wrists, ankles, and knees, claimed as arthralgia, and a skin disability, claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran does not have any current disabilities involving his low back, neck, right knee, or ankles.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disorder with left foot degenerative joint disease and prostate cancer, finding no evidence of a relationship to the veteran's active military service.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including residuals of injuries to the ankles and feet, a skin disorder affecting the arms and back, a low back injury, and residuals of an injury to the left Achilles tendon, as there was no evidence of these conditions during service or sufficient evidence linking them to service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was denied as the earliest possible effective date that could be assigned is July 18, 2003, the date of receipt of his claim.

The appeal is remanded to obtain a new medical examination to determine if the veteran has a current left ankle disability related to service.