Ankle Board decisions

The veteran's right ankle disorder was granted a temporary evaluation of 100 percent effective from March 6, 2002 based on surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence. From March 1, 2003 to January 14, 2004, he received a 40 percent rating for his right ankle disorder. From July 1, 2004, the veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for his right ankle disorder. The left ankle disorder was also granted a 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed bilateral ankle and knee disorders did not have their onset in service or are otherwise related to military service, leading to a denial of his claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and outstanding medical records. The veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an orthopedic examination to determine the nature and severity of all residual disabilities stemming from the in-service fracture of the tibia and fibula. The examiner is instructed to address whether any right knee disability found is a residual of the original fracture or if it developed secondary to or was aggravated by the residuals of the in-service fracture.

The veteran's claims for left ankle strain, right foot pain and fallen arches, left foot pain with tendonitis and fallen arches, cervical strain, and left back pain are denied as there is no current diagnosis of a disability in any of these areas.,The veteran's claim for left hip pain, bursitis is also denied as there is no current diagnosis of a disability.

The Board has determined that the case should be remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to assess the current severity of the veteran's disabilities.

The veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found no justiciable case or controversy with respect to the claim of entitlement to service connection for strep throat, as it was already granted in full in 1971. For the remaining issues, the veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his right hip scar and chronic tonsillitis.

The Board has denied service connection for the veteran's right ankle condition, Saturday Night Palsy, Hepatitis C, and Sleep Condition due to lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, hip, shoulder, and ankle disorders. However, further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service or any other relevant factors.

The veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 18, 2001 were denied. However, his claim for a 40 percent evaluation for residuals of fracture, second metatarsal of the left foot was granted as of that date.

The Board has granted service connection for cold injury resulting in arthritis of the hands and knees, but denied it for the ankles, shoulders, and back due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were generally granted, with some conditions being attributed to undiagnosed illnesses.

The veteran's left ankle disability was not found to be service-connected. The initial rating for his low back disability from November 7, 2002, to October 3, 2006, was granted at a 20 percent rating and remains unchanged. From October 4, 2006, the veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's lumbar spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not causally related to a service-connected disability. The left ankle fracture disability has been rated at 10% since its initial grant of service connection, but the Board determined there is no basis for an increased rating.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for lumbar strain effective April 29, 2005. The veteran's right hip strain and knee instability are rated at the maximum available under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current Achilles tendonitis of the right ankle and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic right ankle sprain and residuals of a fracture to the left thumb are denied as there is no evidence of marked limited motion or ankylosis, respectively.

The Board found that the veteran's current right ankle disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not proximately due to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing documents and notification issues, requiring additional development of evidence.