Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right ankle/shin injury. The claim is not well-grounded as there is no competent medical evidence showing current disability or a link between the in-service injury and the current condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his knee disabilities are denied. His ankle disability claim is not well-grounded, while his right knee disability warrants a 20 percent rating since July 29, 1994, but no higher.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for varicose veins of the left leg with recurrent stasis ulcer was granted, and a rating of 40 percent has been in effect since September 13, 1996.

The VA denied service connection for a right ankle fracture and did not assign a compensable rating for residuals of a left ankle fracture.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury due to lack of competent medical evidence showing current disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle pain and diarrhea, as due to an undiagnosed illness, are not well grounded.

The case is being remanded for a video conference hearing with the appellant and a Member of the Board. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has determined that the evidence submitted does not meet the criteria for reopening the veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and ankle disorders, as there is no new and material evidence presented.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are well-grounded and have granted them. The conditions include a right shoulder disorder, left ankle disorder, chronic strain of the right ankle, schizotypal personality disorder, psychiatric disorders (including depression and anxiety), and sleep disorder.

The Board denied all issues on appeal, finding that the veteran's right ankle sprain warranted a 20% evaluation and did not meet criteria for higher ratings. Service connection was granted for sinusitis but denied for other conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disability secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability is denied. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a left ankle fracture is granted with a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the service-connected lumbosacral strain, which is the maximum available under VA regulations. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected right wrist and left ankle disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of right ankle fracture prior to August 15, 1994 and for right ankle fusion were granted. The rating for the former condition was set at 20 percent, while the latter received a 30 percent rating.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected residuals of trauma to the left ankle, finding that his symptoms more nearly approximate moderate disability. The diagnosis of gout in the left ankle is not well-established and does not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board found that the veteran's left ankle disability, characterized by slight loss of motion and early post-traumatic arthritic changes, does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent based on limitation of motion. The claim for an increased evaluation was therefore denied.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service medical records and other evidence. The veteran's claims for right knee and right ankle disabilities are being reviewed again.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection of residuals of a ruptured right tympanic membrane, bilateral ankle disability, and irritable bowel syndrome are not well grounded. The evidence does not support current diagnoses or disabilities related to these conditions.

The Board granted an increased rating of 20 percent for service-connected lumbar strain effective January 5, 1998. The veteran's claim for earlier effective date was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his right knee disorder, service connection for a left knee disorder (secondary to the right knee injury), and service connection for a left ankle disorder. The right knee disorder is currently rated at 20 percent disabling.