Ankle Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left and right ankle disabilities, as well as service connection for a depressive disorder. The issues of service connection for back, heart, right knee and right eye disorders, and increased evaluations for foot fungus and stomach lipomas are also addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation of his left ankle disability and service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking the current knee condition to service or his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board found that the veteran's left ankle disorder, characterized by moderate limitation of motion, did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent from the date of his separation from active service.

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

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory, digestive, musculoskeletal and/or connective tissue disorders on a direct basis are not well grounded. The claims for skin rash (other than cysts) were also denied as there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury and an earlier effective date for her 40 percent disability rating for sacroiliac joint dysfunction. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of a chronic left ankle disability, thus not meeting the well-grounded claim requirement. For the sacroiliac joint dysfunction, the Board noted that while she had symptoms related to this condition during service and post-service, there was insufficient evidence to establish a current disability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and determined that it is well-grounded. The claims for left ankle, right ankle, and lumbar spine disorders are also considered well-grounded.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected right ankle fracture with post-traumatic arthritis and limited motion warrants a disability rating of 20 percent, effective as of the date of the decision.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right ankle and foot disability, which is rated as degenerative arthritis, does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development of the evidence, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of his shoulder and ankle disabilities, finding no well-grounded evidence to support these claims.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral pes planus to military service or his right ankle disorder. The claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and back conditions are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and an in-service disease or injury, nor can it be attributed to any service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities, finding that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of his conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was not well grounded because there is no cognizable evidence showing that his claim is plausible or capable of substantiation.

The veteran's appeal was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for his right ankle disorder on the merits.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not meet the criteria for reopening the previously denied claims of service connection for low back disorder, right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, residuals of a left shoulder injury and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability warrants a 30 percent evaluation, effective from March 1998. The veteran is also entitled to a separate 10 percent evaluation for arthritis of the right knee. No increased evaluations are granted for his left ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle sprain and low back and neck disorders due to lack of evidence establishing a causal nexus between the current conditions and active service.,The veteran's claims regarding reopening her sinus disorder and joint popping and snapping claims were also denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 100 percent for the veteran's service-connected cardiovascular disability, effective from January 1993 to March 1, 1993. The ratings for arthritis of the cervical spine and thoracic spine remain at 10 percent each, while the rating for traumatic arthritis of the left ankle is maintained at 10 percent.