Ankle Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the Board's failure to consider the criteria for ratings greater than those currently assigned.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not related to military service or due to an undiagnosed illness. The subcutaneous nodule of the right costal margin is presumed to have been incurred during active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a left ankle injury, as well as his claim for an increased rating for PTSD. The effective date for the 100 percent schedular rating for PTSD was set at September 1, 1998.

The veteran's claims for service connection for stitches, as a residual of a head injury, and for residuals of a left ankle sprain are denied. There is no probative medical evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, residuals of a stroke (claimed as loss of sight, swollen ankles, and heart damage), arteriosclerotic heart disease, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and back disorder. The appeals were decided on the merits without any presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture due to new and material evidence submitted since the final February 1995 determination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability, but denied the other issues. The veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for a scalp scar is pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected low back disability, right ankle fracture residuals, and plantar fasciitis.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed ankle disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right ankle disability were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right foot and right ankle injury residuals due to lack of well-groundedness, but remanded the matter for further action.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examination and consideration of his claim for an increased disability rating for his right ankle disability.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 27, 1999 for the grant of service connection for a recurrent left ankle sprain is denied.

The Board found no current medical evidence of a left knee, right ankle, or left ankle disorder. The veteran's service records do not show any ongoing issues with his knees and ankles post-service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied service connection for right heel bursitis and an increased rating for the veteran's right ankle disability. The claim of service connection was reopened, but the new evidence did not support reopening or granting service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and to reopen his service connection claims, maintaining that new evidence did not warrant reopening of the right ankle and knee disability claims, and denying a left knee disability claim. The low back disability was rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 22, 1996, for assignment of a 10 percent evaluation for his left ankle disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's right ankle disorder is not related to service and therefore denied her claim.

The Board found that the veteran's left knee and right ankle disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may arthritis be presumed to have been so incurred. The preponderance of evidence shows these disabilities are not related to his period of active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the right ankle, which is currently service-connected. The medical evidence supports a finding that this disability is related to the veteran's in-service injury.