Ankle Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle strain secondary to the appellant's service-connected fractures of the left tibia and fibula. The claim for increased evaluations was denied, but the TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee condition and increased the ratings for traumatic arthritis of left ankle, history of old injury, and chronic lumbar syndrome, degenerative disc disease. The effective dates for these grants are July 15, 1998.

The RO reduced a veteran's disability rating for his service-connected right ankle arthritis from 10 to 0 percent effective March 27, 1951. The decision is denied as there was no clear and unmistakable error.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a left knee disability and a left ankle disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, and continued the current evaluation of 30 percent for his right knee replacement.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings on three separate conditions are being remanded due to procedural issues.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including those allegedly related to herbicide exposure, are granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant's preexisting right shoulder, left tibia, and right ankle disabilities underwent an increase in severity during military service due to his active duty activities. Service connection is granted for these conditions on the basis of aggravation.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's laceration scar of the right ankle, post-traumatic headaches, and lumbar paravertebral myositis. The veteran is now rated at 10 percent for each condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a left shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, bilateral hand disorder, bilateral testicular disorder, and hearing loss. The RO assigned maximum schedular evaluations for these disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his status post fracture left ankle, finding that the current disability evaluation of 20 percent is appropriate given the lack of evidence of ankylosis or other disabling conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran also has pending issues regarding initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for lumbar strain with DDD and residuals of right mid-tibia fracture with right ankle sprain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her right ankle and back disabilities, finding that the evidence does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including verification of stressors claimed by the appellant.

The Board has determined that there is no confirmed diagnosis of right ankle, right knee, or left elbow disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including examinations by a neurologist and an orthopedist. The veteran seeks increased evaluations for his service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds to the left ankle and forearm.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current back, right knee, and right ankle disorders and his military service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death due to atherosclerotic heart disease and sepsis, which was listed as a contributory factor on the veteran's death certificate. The effective date is not specified.

The veteran's claims for service connection for knee and ankle disorders, stomach disorder (gastroesophagitis), peri-rectal warts, and dental injury from service trauma were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or chronic condition that is related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus, valgus deformity of both ankles, and post-operative fistula in ano. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable schedular criteria.