Ankle decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right C5-6 radiculopathy, claimed as a 'right arm' disorder, is granted service connection and is proximately due to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine. The other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the issue of service connection for a right ankle disability because the appellant has been fully reimbursed for the expenses she bore as a result of her father's last sickness and burial, and there are no additional eligible accrued benefits claimants in his case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including obesity resulting from his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for arthritis of the hands, hips, legs and ankles, to include as secondary to medications prescribed for service-connected residuals of breast cancer and/or Graves' disease is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.,The Board is requesting further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, lumbar spine disability, right foot/ankle disability, obstructive sleep apnea, right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including GERD, left knee condition, right hip strain, thoracolumbar spine, gastric ulcer/gastritis, left talus non-displaced fracture, right ankle tendonitis, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis. The decision also includes a request for new VA examinations for these conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted with a separate 20 percent rating from February 1, 2011. The left ankle disability remains rated at 20 percent and the TDIU claim for right ankle disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, as well as a right-hand disability, all secondary to fibromyalgia. The VA examiner was asked to provide opinions on whether the fibromyalgia caused or aggravated these conditions.

Service connection is granted for musculoskeletal chest pain.,Service connection is denied for a heart disability.,Service connection is denied for residuals of frostbite to the left lower extremity and right lower extremity.,Service connection is remanded for a left ankle disability and sinus/respiratory disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain and degenerative arthritis, left knee strain and degenerative arthritis, and right ankle sprain and degenerative arthritis. The evidence is at least as likely as not that these disabilities began during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of left ankle injury was denied.,Service connection for the Veteran's back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were all denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to inadequate nexus opinions.,Specifically, new medical opinions are needed on direct and secondary theories of entitlement.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he contends are related to his military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for right knee and right ankle disabilities, as well as denied reopening of claims for service connection for right hip and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot and ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence, including a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as right and left ankle disabilities, and total disability individual unemployability (TDIU).

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. The claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 20 percent for right ankle sprain prior to May 1, 2017, was also granted. However, the claim for a higher rating after that date was denied.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder is related to her service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and has been granted. The low back condition and fibromyalgia remain under review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle conditions due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the relationship between these conditions and his military service.