Ankle decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle disorder is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as due to a personal assault during service.,Right shoulder DJD and dislocation are granted, with continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle sprain and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that these conditions are related to injuries sustained during active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities, as these new evidence does not establish a nexus between the disabilities and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder injury, left hip injury, right hamstring muscle injury, left ankle sprain, neck disorder with headaches, back pain disorder, and chest pain disorder. The VA will provide additional examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from his 1993 surgery and providing addendum opinions on the etiology of his hip conditions.

The claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for TBI with cognitive and sleep disorder is dismissed.,The claim for an effective date prior to June 26, 2017, for a separate evaluation for headaches, status post TBI is dismissed.,The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The claims for effective dates prior to October 5, 2006, for the grant of service connection for breathing disability with shortness of breath and PTSD are denied.,The claims for ratings in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities are dismissed as they were not factually ascertainable within a year prior to June 26, 2017.,The claim for TDIU is dismissed as the Veteran's combined disability rating from June 26, 2017, already meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability and remanded the issue of service connection for left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection and rating for various disabilities, as well as the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left shoulder and ankle conditions, knee degenerative joint disease, radiculopathy, skin disorders, cervical spine disability, facial injury residuals, TMJ, sleep apnea, headaches, hand tremors, CFS, fibromyalgia, and muscle and joint pain. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate these issues.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and requires further development for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle, right knee, and right foot disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle condition is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the Veteran's chronic right ankle sprain, finding that it does not meet the criteria for a rating more than 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all his pending claims and appeals.

The Veteran's right ankle condition and TBI with residuals of mild cognitive dysfunction are being remanded for further review due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for right ankle tenosynovitis. The issue of service connection for lumbosacral strain is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's residuals of right ankle injury are granted as service-connected. The cases for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, as well as a remand is required for an initial compensable rating for right lower extremity scars.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted a 40 percent rating, while the right lower extremity radiculopathy remains denied. Service connection for right hip and left hip traumatic arthritis as well as right ankle and left ankle disabilities are all granted.