Ankle Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hip condition as secondary to the veteran's service-connected right ankle fracture. The rating for residuals of a fracture of the right ankle with degenerative changes is increased from 10% to 20%. The claim for an increased disability evaluation rating for a right fifth metatarsal fracture remains unresolved.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of left ankle and right tibia injuries, as well as an increased evaluation for the veteran's eye condition. The headaches were rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an earlier effective date for a compensable rating of his left ankle disability. The veteran was granted service connection in 1947, but did not appeal this decision. He later sought to reopen his claim in 1992, but the RO found that he had not provided evidence showing an ascertainable increase in his left ankle disability prior to May 7, 1991.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for a right ankle disorder, finding no evidence of a separate disability other than pes planus.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the ankles and feet, finding that the current disability evaluations were appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for lumbar scoliosis and residuals of a right ankle sprain, finding new and material evidence. The gastrointestinal disorder claim is also well-grounded. Service connection will be granted for these conditions as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the appellant's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that new evidence did not provide a basis to relate any current left ankle disability to his period of active duty.

The VA determined that the veteran's right ankle disability, which is a healed fracture with degenerative changes, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a right ankle disorder, as well as his claims for low back, left leg/ankle, and right leg/ankle disorders. These conditions are all found to be secondary to the service-connected burn residuals.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a medial meniscectomy of the right knee, finding that his current symptoms are more severe than previously evaluated.

The Board granted service connection for aortic insufficiency with atrial fibrillation and hypertension, assigning a 60% evaluation effective from November 19, 1998. The veteran's low back disability is considered well grounded but the right ankle sprain claim is not. The initial evaluation of his heart condition was increased to 60%.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder is well-grounded, and thus VA must assist in developing facts pertinent to this claim. The RO should obtain medical records from any providers who treated the veteran for ankle problems prior to or since service, including Dr. Graham's treatment records.

The Board denied an increased rating for service-connected burn scars of the right foot and ankle, but granted a noncompensable rating for status post excision of carcinoma of the right foot. The veteran is seeking higher ratings for both conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing left ankle fracture did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of the veteran's low back disability to 30 percent, effective February 9, 1996.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected left knee, left ankle, and low back disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent. The evidence did not support higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and ankle disabilities are currently rated based on their severity, but do not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing impairment, defective vision, skin disorder, verruca vulgaris (warts), bilateral ankle disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, post-traumatic headaches, maxillary sinusitis, thoracic spine disability, pes cavus, and left varicocele are not well grounded. The veteran's claims have been denied as they do not meet the threshold requirement for a well-grounded claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no competent evidence to support a nexus to service.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well grounded and denied them.