Ankle Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of left hip and left ankle disabilities, as well as his requests for increased ratings for right knee and low back disabilities. The Board found no competent evidence linking these conditions to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's death was attributed to dementia, which the VA examiner believed was caused by his service-connected right knee and ankle conditions.,An earlier effective date for the award of service connection for a right knee disorder is not warranted as there is no evidence that the veteran submitted an application prior to August 30, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a bilateral ankle condition, testicle condition, and eye condition. The low back disability was granted with an initial rating of 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral foot disability, left hip, knee, and ankle disabilities, as well as a skin condition, were denied by the RO. The decision did not address the issue of service connection based on exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive conditions.

The veteran's service-connected right foot and left foot disabilities have been granted increased evaluations of 30% and 20%, respectively, effective from May 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle condition is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied reopening the claim for a left ankle disability due to lack of new and material evidence, as the submitted medical records do not relate to an unestablished relationship between the current condition and service.

The Board found that the veteran's current left ankle condition was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for multiple joint and back disorders, claiming they are related to an accident during his military service in December 1972. The case has been remanded due to the submission of new evidence that requires further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a disability rating greater than 30 percent for his left ankle condition and TDIU on schedular basis only. The case was remanded to consider extra-schedular evaluation, but no such evaluation was granted.

The veteran's claims for increased rating, reopening of a hearing loss claim, and service connection for left hip arthritis and knee arthritis were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's assertions that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left ankle disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for the right ankle or any evaluation greater than 20 percent for the left ankle.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional right ankle disability claimed as a result of VA surgical treatment in June 1999 is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration.

The Board denied service connection for joint pain and a skin condition, finding no evidence of chronic disability due to an undiagnosed illness or direct service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and a bilateral foot and ankle condition, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims. The decision also noted that hypertension with renal insufficiency warranted a 30 percent disability rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for his right ankle injury is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and development.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been denied. His left wrist disability is not shown to be related to his military service, while his elbow and tibia disabilities are currently rated as they should be based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for arterial hypertension as there was no evidence of a current disability and the veteran did not have diastolic blood pressure predominantly 90 mm. or greater within one year post-service.,The Board denied service connection for disease of the lumbar spine with radiculitis of the lower extremities (claimed as numbness of the right leg) as there was no evidence that the condition is related to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right ankle sprain, left ankle disorder, and bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC. The veteran's claims for asbestos exposure have been denied due to lack of evidence of current asbestos-related disease or disorder.