Ankle decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed the appeals for a rating in excess of 10 percent and earlier effective date for service connection of status post medial talar dome lesion debridement, right ankle due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20%, and his right and left leg shin splints are each rated at 10%. The claims for increased ratings remain pending as the issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as he does not have a current disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (insomnia) is denied due to lack of evidence showing the condition during or proximate to the appeal period, and because alcohol dependence is not service-connected.,The issue of service connection for a left eye disability has been remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding the presence of a current disability.,Service connection for low back joint pain, right knee joint pain, left knee joint pain, right ankle joint pain, and left shoulder joint pain have all been remanded due to insufficient evidence or lack of proper examination.,reasoning_1_sentence_service_connection_for_bilateral_hearing_loss_and_acquired_psychiatric_disorder_direct,confidence_score_0.9

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right ankle, left ankle, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence showing onset in or causation related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the remaining issues related to polyarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle strain with osteoarthritis and remanded the other issues due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability and a left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are due to injuries sustained during his active duty in September 2005.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, but denied service connection for his left ankle and foot disabilities. The decision is based on a finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted, and service connection for other foot conditions (right and left) are dismissed. Service connection for low back disability, bilateral lower extremity neurological condition, pes planus, right and left foot Morton's neuroma, right and left foot hammer toes, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left ankle disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection of left shoulder, left ankle, left big toe disabilities and right hip disability. The cases are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for post-surgical erectile dysfunction on a secondary basis to the right inguinal hernia.,Service connection was denied for left and right ankle disabilities, as well as lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a right ankle disability. The neck disability claim is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for blood abnormalities, including as secondary to a right ankle disability. The decision concluded that sickle cell trait is not a disease or injury but rather a congenital defect and did not cause any superimposed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding a right ankle disability. The Veteran's service records show complaints of right ankle injury, but no treatment was documented. A new VA examination is needed to determine if any current right ankle disability is related to service or caused by other service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a left ankle disability. The Veteran's current diagnosis of other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder is found to be related to his service, warranting service connection. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's low back disability and his period of active service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his left ankle and low back disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, right knee, and right ankle disabilities were remanded for further evaluation. The abdominal incisional hernia was denied. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy with sciatic nerve involvement and left lower extremity radiculopathy with sciatic nerve involvement were granted initial 20 percent ratings.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right thigh, knee, ankle, and left ankle disorders have been reopened.,Higher ratings for the lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral foot disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a TBI was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hand burns has been reopened due to new and material evidence.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, a left ankle disability, and hypertension due to his death.