Ankle Board decisions

The Board denied the waiver of recovery of an overpayment of disability compensation benefits in the amount of $3,170 due to the veteran's fault in creating the overpayment. The decision also noted that collection would not violate principles of equity and good conscience.

The Board denied all issues related to the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a rating in excess of 20 percent for arthritis of the left ankle and compensable ratings for residuals of fractures and dislocation of the left ring finger and little fingers.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a chronic right ankle disability due to lack of evidence showing current diagnoses or service origin.

The veteran's right ankle disability, which includes strain and an exostosis, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has granted a 20% evaluation for the avulsion fracture of the right ankle and found that the fracture of the left maxilla warrants a non-compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's VA disability compensation is subject to recoupment of separation pay, and service connection for a deviated nasal septum is granted. The remaining issues are pending further review.

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 current back condition is not related to her active service and denied her claim for service connection. The issue of a higher original evaluation for her left ankle sprain was also considered, but no rating assigned as it was an original evaluation.

The case is being remanded to the RO for additional actions including a hearing, clarification of service connection issues, and investigation into the authenticity of submitted medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his claim for right orchitis and epididymitis, and denied increased ratings for bilateral high frequency hearing loss, myositis of the lumbar paravertebral muscles, and patella chondromalacia.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his right knee disability and service connection for a left knee and left ankle disorder. The total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is deferred at this time.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for psychiatric disability, denied service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury, denied increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the cervical spine and bronchitis, and denied an increased rating for residuals of a fracture of the right wrist.

The veteran's service-connected right ankle disorder and residuals of fracture of the right radial head have been rated as noncompensable. The May 1998 VA examination showed mild degenerative joint disease in the right ankle, warranting a 10% evaluation for a painful right ankle joint. For the right elbow disability, there is no evidence of ankylosis or arthritis, and the veteran's range of motion was normal with some tenderness over the radial head.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for left ankle instability, postoperative, with osteochondritis dissecans of the left talus and a 10 percent evaluation for service-connected left patellar tendinitis.

The Board has found the claims for service connection for right ankle and low back disabilities to be well grounded. The veteran's current knee disability is currently evaluated as noncompensably disabling.

The veteran's disability, characterized by traumatic arthritis of the left ankle with limitation of motion and pain, has been granted a 10 percent rating.

The case is being remanded for a travel board hearing and further development.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection and evaluations for his claimed conditions, finding that there is no evidence of chronic disability caused by these conditions in service or currently.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for a left leg and ankle disorder is granted, with no specific rating assigned or effective date provided. The appeal was based on direct evidence from service records.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis and a bilateral ankle disability was granted. The decision also noted that new evidence submitted since the last denial supports these claims.