Ankle Board decisions

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's right ankle fracture, left ankle injury, and right shoulder injury. The rating for bowel incontinence is also granted to a 30 percent level. However, the rating for hemorrhoids remains at noncompensable.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a right ankle fracture and sprain, finding that the disability included significant instability with occasional episodes of giving way, as well as some weakened movement, incoordination, and excess fatigability, productive of marked ankle disability. The maximum schedular rating has not been assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar strain, left ankle degenerative arthritis, and right ankle degenerative arthritis as they did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's sleep apnea is found to be attributable to service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle fracture and low back syndrome were denied. The VA found that the veteran did not meet criteria for higher ratings at any point.

The veteran's service-connected post-concussive syndrome, right rotator cuff tendinitis, status post fracture of the right ankle, cervical strain, and lumbar strain have been evaluated based on their respective symptoms and limitations. The appeals for increased evaluations are granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee disability and granted increased ratings for the veteran's right ankle and shoulder disabilities. The left knee disability is not considered to be related to active military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected left ankle disability, characterized by recurrent instability and moderate limitation of motion, warranted a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right leg disability, diagnosed as arthritis of the right ankle, is not related to service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of a left ankle sprain and a left knee disorder. The veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10%.

The veteran's right ankle disorder is not service-connected. The left knee condition and the right knee disorder are both service-connected, with increased ratings granted for each.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a diagnosed left ankle disability and denied his claim for service connection as secondary to his service-connected plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, finding that the current 20 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of her symptoms and impairment.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle disability and granted a 10% evaluation for his left shoulder disability. The effective date is not specified.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and back conditions were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right ankle disability does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's osteoarthritis, multiple joints and polyarthritis of the knees, hands and ankles were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The veteran's current conditions are considered to be separate from his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle edema, left ankle edema, otitis media (right ear), and otitis media (left ear). The decision found that there was no evidence of chronic right ankle edema during service or post-service. The veteran's bilateral ankle edema was characterized as 'questionable' in November 1961 and not present upon examination in November 1966.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected left ankle disability and a 10 percent rating for multiple, noncompensable service-connected disorders under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324.

The Board has determined that a rating in excess of 20 percent is warranted for the period February 19, 1997 to May 11, 1999 and a rating in excess of 30 percent is warranted beginning May 12, 1999 for service-connected left ankle disability. The veteran's left ankle disability has been manifested by complaints of pain on use and during flare-ups with objective evidence of functional loss.