Ankle decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for left ankle fracture and awarded an effective date of December 25, 2006. The case is remanded for further action on issues related to TBI and left ankle sprain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current disabilities are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ankle condition as new and material evidence was not submitted, and the claim remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for various hip, shoulder, arm, and leg conditions due to a lack of evidence of current musculoskeletal disabilities separate from the Veteran's already service-connected radiculopathy/neuropathy.

The appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus is dismissed. The October 2014 Notice of Disagreement was timely regarding the November 2013 and February 2014 rating decisions, but the June 2018 NOD was not valid as it raised issues that had never been adjudicated before.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for bilateral pes planus prior to August 2, 2017 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 30 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of initial 20 percent ratings for left and right ankle arthritis, finding that April 18, 2018 was the earliest date on which entitlement to these ratings is factually shown.

The Veteran's IBS, RUE CTS, lumbar spine disability, right and left ankle disabilities, right knee disability, left knee disability, left foot disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow disability, and disability affecting the right hand/fingers are all granted as service-connected. The Veteran's sleep disorder is also granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal was granted as the AOJ found that there was no new evidence to reopen his previously denied claims and denied all service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for right ankle, right knee, left knee, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and thyroid conditions due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of May 17, 2018 for the award of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has decided that service connection for a broken right ankle due to weakness is denied, and the nose condition/obstructed breathing issue is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for left ankle and left knee disorders, as well as left leg pain. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for a left ankle condition, and the Board dismissed it.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for throat, eye, left shoulder, left ankle, ulcers and polyps, and respiratory conditions due to missing development. The VA examinations were not conducted as scheduled or completed, and there are conflicting opinions regarding service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability and a respiratory/lung disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Veteran's cervical spine myositis, degenerative disc disease of the back with myositis, and left ankle strain are all remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate previous examinations. The issues are inextricably intertwined as a decision on these conditions could impact the ratings for related radiculopathies.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle conditions, finding that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of her disabilities.

The appeal pertaining to the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral syndrome is dismissed.,Service connection for a right ankle disorder is denied.