Ankle decisions — 2022

The Veteran's tinnitus has been rated at 10 percent and no higher, which is the maximum available under VA regulations.,The effective dates for service connection of MDD, right knee anterior cruciate ligament tear, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain, right knee anterior scar, and tinnitus have not been earlier than August 29, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hip arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, bilateral ankle arthritis, bilateral foot arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, and lower back arthritis due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete records.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for RLS, right wrist, and right knee disorders.

The claim of service connection for left ankle sprain residuals has been reopened, but further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any identified left lower extremity disabilities. The Veteran's claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for various foot and ankle disabilities remain unresolved due to additional evidence submitted since the last final decision. The Board has determined that further development is needed before these claims can be decided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered individually, do not preclude him from engaging in gainful employment. Therefore, a TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for Crohn's disease, right ankle fracture, and left knee injury were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they have been decided.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during the appeal process.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, a right ankle disability, and migraine headaches as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active-duty service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection were based on direct service connection.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

For the period prior to January 23, 2016, the Veteran's left ankle sprain was manifested by moderate limitation of motion. Since January 23, 2016, his left ankle sprain has been characterized by marked limitation of motion.,Since October 14, 2020, the Veteran's left foot disability has been characterized as moderately severe.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to April 15, 2019.

The Veteran is granted service connection for left shin splints, right shin splints, a left ankle disability, and a left shoulder disability. The Board found that these conditions are at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases provided in its decision regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle disability. The VA is instructed to obtain additional treatment records, provide an addendum opinion from a VA examiner, and address specific issues raised by the Joint Motion for Partial Remand.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle, right foot, and left ankle disorders due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claims were based on his contention that he had pre-service disabilities which were aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and missing treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction, finding that a VA opinion is needed regarding whether it is at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 26, 2017 due to inextricably intertwined issues with other pending claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record to determine if these conditions are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a right foot condition and a right ankle condition due to insufficient medical opinions in previous examinations.