Ankle Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations based on his service-connected right ankle, left ankle, low back strain, left shoulder, right shoulder, and left wrist disabilities.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, as well as his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent were not met for any of the conditions.

The RO denied increased disability ratings for service-connected residuals of a left ankle injury and osteomyelitis of the left ankle.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities, including Reiter's Syndrome and various joint conditions. The RO will then re-adjudicate the claims.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability, right femur disability, left femur disability, right tibia disability, and left knee disability are all rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent. The veteran's right ankle and left ankle disabilities have not been shown to warrant a higher than noncompensable rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and ankle disabilities, as well as back and neck conditions, were denied by the RO in March 1975. The Board has not reopened these claims due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's left ankle scar, residual of shrapnel fragment wound, finding no limitation of function and thus not warranting a compensable rating.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Maryland and New York, providing proper notice as required by Kent v. Nicholson, and readjudicating the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected asthma and right ankle sprain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment or medical findings.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral knee and ankle arthritis are not service connected as they did not manifest within one year of discharge from service, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty. The medical evidence does not support a finding that the disabilities are related to his service-connected residuals of burns to heels, feet, and ankles.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, a left ankle condition, and a right ankle condition due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic amputation of the thumb and all fingers of the major hand, left ankle fracture with arthritis, and residuals of a brain concussion were denied as there is no evidence of additional disability beyond what is currently rated.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability due to lack of new and material evidence, as no current right ankle disability was shown.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right leg disability (claimed as residual of right ankle injury), and bipolar disorder. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a current disability or establish that these conditions are related to military service.

The veteran's low back, right knee, and right ankle disorders were not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The right ankle condition is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, the left wrist condition as 10 percent disabling, and the bursitis of the elbow as 10 percent disabling. Tinea pedis does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable evaluation for his right shoulder disability and left ankle scar.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.