Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for an ear disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disorder, left shoulder disorder, and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as schizophrenia) are not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right foot or ankle disability, and therefore service connection for residuals of a right foot/ankle injury is denied. The veteran's low back disability remains evaluated at 20 percent.

The Board denied increased evaluations for COPD and recurrent bilateral ankle sprain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, low back disability, and right ankle disability due to lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current right and left knee disabilities are of service onset and related to his in-service injuries, warranting a grant of service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a right ankle injury do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, finding that the evidence did not support higher evaluations or a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left ankle disorder is not service-connected, but his post-operative left inguinal hernia residuals are rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are well grounded, and to this extent, the appeals are granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims but found them not well grounded. The evidence does not establish current disabilities or a link to service for all claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, residuals of fractures of the left tibia and fibula with left ankle dislocation, residuals of a fractured left femur, and residuals of a fractured nose are not well grounded. The claim for compensation for malaria is denied. The veteran's residuals of fractures of the left tibia and fibula with left ankle dislocation have been rated as 30% disabling under Diagnostic Code 5262.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current bilateral knee or ankle disorder related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle condition, including his right tibialis anterior tendinitis, warrants a 10 percent disability rating. The current evaluation is based on moderate limitation of motion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings, secondary service connection, and a total compensation rating based on individual unemployability. The left ankle disability was rated at 30 percent, but no higher. The back and right knee disabilities were not found to be related to the service-connected left ankle condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are well-grounded and have proceeded to a decision on their merits. Service connection is granted for arthritis of the hands, but denied for disorders of the ankles, legs, and knees, avitaminosis, gastrointestinal disorder (including a stomach condition), irritable bladder, and PTSD.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 27, 1993, for service connection for the residuals of right ankle sprains is denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his right ankle disability is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current ankle disabilities and his military service, including Operation Desert Storm. The claim is denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected right ankle disability does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board finds that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, low back disability and left wrist disability are not well grounded. The claim for an increased rating for post-traumatic tendonitis of the right shoulder is well grounded.