Ankle Board decisions

The veteran seeks service connection for hearing loss and various other conditions. The RO has remanded the case to obtain additional records and conduct examinations.,The veteran claims service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the hands, ankles, shoulders, and back, which he attributes to in-service exposure to humidity in Vietnam. He also seeks service connection for a psychiatric disability (likely depression) and benign prostatic hypertrophy due to herbicide exposure during service.,The veteran asserts that his current psychiatric condition is related to an in-service diagnosis of depression. The RO has requested clarification on whether the veteran is seeking service connection for PTSD, which would require further development.,The veteran claims service connection for myocardial infarctions and coronary artery disease, with a suggestion that these conditions may be secondary to his psychiatric disability. He also seeks service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy due to herbicide exposure during service.,The veteran asserts that he was exposed to noise while serving as a policeman in the Air Force, which could potentially relate to his current hearing loss.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a current right ankle disability and denied service connection for this condition. The claims of entitlement to service connection for back and right knee disabilities are also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of bilateral heel fractures and a right ankle fracture as secondary to his service-connected postoperative internal derangement of the left knee, and for low back disability on a direct basis.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of a left ankle fracture and chronic urinary tract infection, but denied service connection for left knee and hip disabilities. The initial ratings assigned are 30 percent for the urinary tract infection.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, right ankle, left ankle, right hand, and left hand have been evaluated based on their initial grant of service connection.,The veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee (previously characterized as chondromalacia) has also been evaluated based on its initial grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left ankle condition was not incurred in or caused by service, and there is no evidence of arthritis within one year following discharge from service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury is denied.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, hypertension and bilateral vision problems are not service-connected, arthritis of the lumbar spine, right ankle disorder, and right shoulder disorder are granted with a 30 percent rating each. Dermatitis was denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to decide the veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and bilateral pes planus. This includes obtaining medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service, as well as any aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Board denied service connection for multiple joint arthritides, finding that the veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service. The initial evaluation of the right wrist fracture was also denied.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The veteran's left ankle sprain residuals are rated at the minimum level of 10%.,The veteran's tonsillitis is not currently productive of any compensable pathology and thus does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability in November 1990. The evidence submitted since then is not new and material, so the claim cannot be reopened.

The veteran's service connected pes cavus is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board denied increased ratings for the bilateral ankle, knee, hip, back, and neck conditions due to lack of evidence supporting a relationship with active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right foot and ankle disability, which was previously denied in November 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, an initial rating for a left ankle disability, and initial compensable ratings for a scar on his left nostril and hemorrhoids due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, low back disability, obesity, right hip disability, left hip disability, left foot disability, and left knee disability have been denied as there is no evidence of a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, low back disability, obesity, right hip disability, left hip disability, left foot disability, and left knee/ankle disabilities. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's increased rating claims for his service-connected left ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD. Service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including determining if the veteran had periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) or in-active duty training (INACDUTRA), and whether any current back, left ankle, or knee disabilities are related to such service.