Ankle Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for residuals of a left ankle, fibula, and tibia fracture; hypertension; irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease; kidney stones; and multiple angiolipomas.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of fracture of the left ankle are currently productive of no more than a moderate limitation of motion, and thus an evaluation in excess of 10 percent is not warranted. The issue of asbestos-related lung disease remains unclear due to conflicting evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found new and material evidence to reopen the claims of service connection for residuals of a lip laceration, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral ankle disability. The veteran's in-service stressors are recognized as credible.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of right ankle sprain and service connection for eye injury. The claim for a compensable evaluation for laceration scar over left eye is pending.

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for back disability is not well grounded due to lack of a chronic disability in service and inconsistent post-service medical history.,The Board also denied claims for service connection for right ankle disability, headaches, epitaxis (nose bleeds), and kidney stones.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture due to new and material evidence. However, the claims for service connection for neck injury and face injury are not well grounded as there is no current disability linked to these alleged service injuries.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's current ankle disorders, headaches, or stomach disorder to his service. The claims were denied as they did not meet the criteria for well-groundedness.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded and therefore denied.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's right ankle reconstruction, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded, and thus denied. The appeals regarding a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a shrapnel wound to the right shoulder and a compensable disability rating for residuals of shrapnel wounds to the right buttock and hip have also been denied.

The veteran's service-connected post-traumatic arthritis of the left ankle is currently rated at 10 percent, and his bilateral pes planus is rated as noncompensable. The RO has granted these evaluations.

The veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension benefits was denied multiple times, and the effective date of his award is set at June 11, 1997.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the right ankle due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The claim for reopening a left ankle disability was also denied as no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence was not sufficient to establish a well-grounded claim for hypertension, but noted that further development of the issue was needed.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as his claims were not well-grounded.

The veteran meets the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, right tarsal tunnel syndrome and reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the ankle and foot, left heel spur, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, all secondary to her service-connected chondromalacia of the left knee with chronic tenosynovitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a well-grounded claim for service connection for urinary tract infection, disability manifested by scrotal pain, disability manifested by testicular pain, hip disability, ankle disability, right foot disability, gastrointestinal disability, or Crohn's disease. Service connection is granted for laceration scars of the right arm and chin.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left ankle disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disability, currently rated as 10 percent disabling.