Ankle Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unemployable, and the Board has granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the service-connected right ankle disability, which is more than the minimum schedular evaluation required. The lumbar spine issue remains in appellate status.

The VA denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's postoperative residuals of a right ankle fracture, finding that the disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded this case for further development, including obtaining medical records and opinions regarding the veteran's right ankle disability and left ankle disorder. The issues of entitlement to increased evaluation for the right ankle sprain with minimal osteoarthritis and service connection for a left ankle disorder secondary to the right ankle disability are also being addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic right ankle disability, an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for his heart disability, and an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his umbilical hernia. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a left ankle disorder, finding that there is no relationship between his current disability and any incident of his active military service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for residuals of a left femur fracture and degenerative changes of the right ankle were denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle disorder and left knee disorder are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection. The increased evaluation claim was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and ratings for various disabilities, including residuals of a right elbow injury, headaches as due to undiagnosed illness, patellofemoral syndrome of both knees, chronic right ankle sprain, low back pain, and pulmonary restrictive disease.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for chronic lumbar strain and a 20 percent disability rating for chronic right ankle strain, both of which are currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury was denied by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office in Chicago, Illinois.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, each rated at 10 percent disabling effective from January 1, 1992.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a compensable evaluation of his right ankle disability, finding that the increase in disability was not factually ascertainable prior to December 30, 1991.

The Board is requesting additional information from the National Personnel Records Center and the Marine Corps to determine if the claimant had service between August 1980 and February 1991. The appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic malarial residuals, post-traumatic stress disorder, cervical spine disorders, dorsal (thoracic) spine disorders, left lower extremity disorders, chronic left ankle disorders, and chronic skin disorders. The RO was directed to verify the veteran's periods of active duty, active duty for training, and inactive duty for training with the Georgia Army National Guard and request all available service medical records associated with such duty.

The Board has determined that additional medical information is required to properly assess the veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his right knee disability. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability evaluation for the appellant's service-connected residuals of right ankle fracture and denied his claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral knee, and left ankle disorders.

The veteran's claims for secondary service connection have been denied as not well grounded. The RO is required to obtain the names and addresses of all medical care providers who treated the veteran for his disabilities of the left lower extremity since the VA examination in June 1999, and to provide a VA examination by an appropriate specialist to determine the nature and extent of his service connected disabilities of the left lower extremity. The RO must also review the claims file and ensure that all notification and development action required by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 is completed.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of verified stressors. The claims for increased evaluations for the left and right knee disabilities were also denied.