Ankle Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, PTSD, chronic sinusitis with headaches, residuals of a cyst on the forehead, recurrent strain/sprain of L5, and residuals of a right ankle sprain. The remaining claims are pending as they have not yet been issued a Statement of the Case.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for xerotic dermatitis, finding that the claims were not well-grounded.

The veteran was found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities as of September 14, 1996. The effective date for the grant of a total compensation rating based on individual unemployability is set at September 14, 1996.

The Board has granted a 10% rating for the veteran's right ankle condition from March 10, 1992 to March 27, 1995. After that date, the evidence does not support a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ankle disability, currently rated at 20 percent, does not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death. The DIC benefits claim was also denied as the veteran would not have been entitled to a total disability rating due to service-connected disability continuously for 10 years prior to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected below the knee amputation of the right lower extremity does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 40 percent. The claims for secondary service connection for left ankle, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities were denied as they are not well grounded.

The Board has determined that a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's residuals of a fracture of the left ankle is denied.

The veteran's left leg gunshot wound residuals, traumatic osteoarthritis of the left ankle, degenerative arthritis of the left knee joint, and left knee instability are all rated at their maximum allowable evaluations.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for a right hip disorder is not well grounded. The claim of service connection for a right ankle disorder, however, is found to be well grounded.

The veteran's right ankle disability was rated at 20 percent from March 1, 2000. The RO reduced the rating to 10 percent effective May 1, 1996 and granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for a tender and painful scar.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, finding that the veteran's back condition began during service. The secondary service connection claims for right ankle and right foot conditions are denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral ankle symptoms are unrelated to his military service or any incident therein, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right ankle, right knee disorder and back disorders are not well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a right ankle fracture with moderate limitation of motion and synovitis warrant a 20 percent disability rating, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available under Diagnostic Code 5271. The claim for an increased rating is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, a bilateral ankle disorder, and a back disorder are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and either service or a service-connected disability.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected thoraco-lumbar strain and left ankle strain, finding that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

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

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected left ankle disability warrants a rating of 20 percent, but does not warrant an increased rating.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, skin disorder, bilateral hip, knee, and ankle disorders are all granted as they may be related to undiagnosed illnesses experienced during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.