Ankle Board decisions

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals regarding secondary service connection for left knee, hip, and ankle disorders as well as an increased rating for his right knee disability due to lack of timely appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot condition and cerebellar degeneration with polyneuropathy are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of direct or secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for ankle and neck conditions, as well as kidney, lung, hypertension, heart, and stomach conditions are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a left ankle disorder and a left shoulder disorder, but denied the remaining claims due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings was denied. Service connection for residuals of bilateral ankle injuries, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss were not granted. Service connection for allergic rhinitis and teeth 4, 18, 19, 30, and 31 was granted with the assigned ratings.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder was not well-grounded and denied it.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability and found it well grounded. The claims for service connection for left foot and ankle disabilities are also considered well grounded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, left ankle disorder, and eye disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence of an undiagnosed illness or other basis for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle injuries.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected right lower extremity disability, finding that the condition did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claim for VA compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking his claimed disabilities to the prescribed medications during outpatient treatment in August and September 1996. His service connection claim for headaches remains unresolved.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a left ankle condition or weak ankles, and denied service connection for this issue. The veteran was granted an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for bilateral myofascial pain syndrome associated with the muscles of mastication and a right-side displaced meniscus.

The VA has denied the claim for an increased rating for a right ankle disability, currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for right ankle and knee conditions are not well grounded because there is no evidence of chronic or residual impairment shown on examination upon separation from service.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral pes planus and traumatic arthritis of the right ankle do not warrant an increased evaluation, as they are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities to his military service. Therefore, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability and concluded that the veteran's claim for service connection was not well-grounded.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 10 percent for the service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right ankle, effective from April 14, 1992.

The Board denied the veteran's request to restore a 20 percent evaluation for postoperative osteomyelitis of the left ankle, stating that there was no active infection within the past five years and that the nonunion noted in January 1985 did not still exist. The combined rating for service-connected disabilities of the left ankle cannot exceed 40 percent due to the already existing evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the left ankle.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be incurred in service, and he is now entitled to a non-compensable evaluation for his status post right ankle reconstruction with RSD.