Ankle decisions — 2021

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates as these issues are not properly before the Board due to a lack of disagreement with the effective dates in the August 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher initial rating for his right ankle disability is remanded. The issue of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also raised, but the Board does not have jurisdiction to determine if TDIU is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions regarding the appellant's character of discharge, service connection claims, and mental health status. The VA will seek additional records and conduct examinations to determine these issues.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current right ear hearing loss, and the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle, knee, and foot disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to August 1, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for a waiver of S-DVI premiums was denied because his total disability did not begin after the date of his application for insurance or while the insurance was in force under premium-paying conditions, and he does not have a service-connected condition that would allow him to qualify for an exception.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and a right ankle disability, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right ankle disability and lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence to support these claims. The claim for vasovagal syncope is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for reopening his previous denial on lumbar spine disability was not successful as new and material evidence was not submitted within one year of the September 2017 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ankle strain, left ankle arthritis, and service-connected plantar fasciitis with pes planus and degenerative arthritis of the bilateral feet. The case will be returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, low back disability, and left ankle disability are remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the appellant's death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities, finding no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and her active duty. The claim for acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further medical opinions. The right ankle, bilateral pes planus, back disability (secondary), and left knee disability (secondary) claims will be addressed again.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral ankle, knee, and low back disabilities as well as headaches secondary to PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations.,Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has a bilateral ankle disability, whether it began during service, and its relationship to his active duty.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's disability ratings and TDIU claim due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA records may provide evidence of worsening in the Veteran's back and right ankle disabilities, which could affect these claims.

The Board denied service connection for a headache disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and chondrosarcoma of the brain as these conditions are not shown to be related to active duty service.