Ankle Board decisions

The Board increased the evaluation for inversion injury of the right ankle, status post open reduction internal fixation with mild strain, from 0 percent to 10 percent effective July 21, 2008.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, right wrist arthritis, and residuals of a right leg fracture was withdrawn. Service connection was granted for residuals of a left ankle fracture and right foot calluses.

The veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent, and the claims for service connection for tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, type II, a left ankle disorder, and TDIU were remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, left ankle fracture, and left thumb injury. The appeal was granted for tinnitus as it was found to be related to the Veteran's active duty service. Service connection was denied for hypertension and right knee disorder.

The appeal is remanded for further development, including a new examination to assess the current status of the veteran's service-connected right knee and right ankle disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, finding no evidence of chronic ankle or foot symptoms during service and noting that current mild instability of the ankles was unrelated to incidents of service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for burn scars of both feet, as there was no evidence that either scar caused any functional impairment or other symptoms warranting a compensable evaluation.

The claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, left elbow disability, and cracked left lower molar are being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for all the claimed conditions as they were not related to an in-service disease or injury.

The veteran's right knee disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, and the dysmenorrhea and uterine fibroids are rated at 30 percent.,The veteran has been granted an initial rating of 30 percent for dysmenorrhea and uterine fibroids, status post myomectomy.

The Board remands the appellant's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a chronic right ankle sprain and service connection for a left knee disorder, to include as secondary to the service-connected chronic right ankle sprain, for additional development.

The veteran's need for regular aid and attendance is not due to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder, and he is not permanently housebound by reason of his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder arthralgia, right knee degenerative joint disease, a right ankle disorder, and migraine headaches as they were not shown to be related to the appellant's active military service.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the March 1974 administrative decision that the veteran's discharge was not a bar to VA benefits, and denied service connection for all claimed conditions as the character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits.

The veteran's appeal was partially granted, with separate 10 percent evaluations for bilateral shin splints and hallux valgus, but denied for a right breast cyst and hemorrhoids. The claims for higher initial evaluations for PTSD, degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, trochanteric bursitis of both hips, and ankle strains were remanded.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral ankle disability and obstructive sleep apnea was dismissed due to a lack of timely substantive appeal.

The veteran's residuals, posterior process talus fracture of the left heel and chondromalacia patella of the left knee do not meet the criteria for increased ratings.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for left leg/ankle swelling was withdrawn. The remaining claims were denied as there is no medical evidence of a causal link between the claimed conditions and any incident of service.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as the criteria were not met prior to December 15, 2000.

The veteran's chronic sinusitis, left ankle sprain with early degenerative joint disease, status post right lateral meniscectomy, and residuals of a fracture of the right fifth metacarpal do not warrant higher ratings.