Ankle Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for multiple joint arthritis, hearing loss, cardiovascular disease including hypertension, hiatal hernia and depression were not well grounded. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or any other form of service connection.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is not well-grounded.,There is no evidence linking the veteran's current chronic fatigue syndrome to his military service or reported continuity of post-service symptomatology.,The veteran's allegation of hearing loss is not supported by medical evidence that would render plausible the claim concerning service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,Although the veteran has reported asbestos exposure in service, there is no medical evidence of asbestosis or any asbestos-related disorder.,Respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,The veteran's claim for flu-like symptoms involving the sinuses is not well-grounded.,Muscle aches in thighs and lower legs are not supported by medical evidence that would render plausible the claim concerning service connection for muscle aches resulting from an undiagnosed illness.,Eye symptoms are not supported by medical evidence that would render plausible the claim concerning service connection for eye symptoms resulting from an undiagnosed illness.,Stomach symptoms are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,Generalized joint pain and shaking are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,Fatigue as a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness is plausible, but the veteran has submitted some evidence supporting this claim.,The veteran's allegation of hearing loss related to an undiagnosed illness is not well-grounded.,Joint pain in ankles and hips are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.,Joint pain in thumbs, fingers of both hands, wrists, elbows are not well-grounded due to lack of credible evidence linking them to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found that the appellant's complaints of aching joints, memory loss, fatigue, weight gain, and nausea and vomiting do not constitute well-grounded claims for service connection. The evidence did not present objective indications of chronic disability.

The Board has granted service connection for polyarthropy of the right ankle and foot, with limitation of right ankle joint motion, and plantar fasciitis of the right foot. The claim for chest pain is denied.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the appellant's current left knee, right knee, or left hip disabilities to his service-connected residuals of a left ankle fracture. Therefore, the claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle arthritis and a low back disability secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities are not well-grounded. The medical evidence does not support these claims.

The Board denied an increased rating for the service-connected residuals of a right ankle fracture, finding that the disability did not warrant a higher than 10 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence of a current disability and no link between the condition and service.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for a left ankle disability as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability is not well grounded. The claim for an increased rating for a left knee disability is well grounded.

The veteran is entitled to assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to his service-connected Môniére's disease, which precludes locomotion without assistive devices.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a psychiatric disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, left side injury, vision problems, throat problem, low back disorder, and flat feet. The evidence submitted did not meet the criteria to reopen these claims.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not meet the criteria for reopening the claims of service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities, as well as the claim for urinary infection or epididymitis. The RO's decisions remain final.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence of current disabilities for the claimed conditions, and thus the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle strain and conjunctivitis, as well as service connection for prostatitis. The appellant was granted service connection for these conditions in a previous decision.

The Board dismissed the appeals as no timely substantive appeal was received for any of the issues on appeal.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected right ankle sprain was granted, but the assigned noncompensable rating is being reviewed due to perceived inadequacy.

The Board found that the veteran's left ankle disability, which is currently rated at 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5271 for limitation of motion of the ankle, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left lower extremity disability and for an increased rating for her right ankle disability. The right ankle disability is currently rated at 40%.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected hiatal hernia, effective from January 18, 1997. The veteran is also entitled to a compensable rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and residuals of a fracture of the right ankle.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for left TMJ syndrome and a chronic left ankle disability, finding that there was no current medical evidence to support these claims.