Ankle decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his right ankle condition, finding that there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's right ankle disorder is being reviewed for service connection, including whether it was aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle condition and bilateral shoulder strain, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the previously denied claim for residuals of a left ankle fracture.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, right ankle disability, prostate cancer residuals, gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), and cholecystectomy residuals due to further development being necessary. The AOJ is instructed to obtain SSA records, prepare an ILER, schedule a TERA examination if appropriate, and provide VA examinations and medical opinions as needed.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left ankle disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent, as the range of motion testing showed no more than moderate limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left ankle, bilateral knee, and left hip disorders are being remanded due to the receipt of additional service records. The Board will consider these new records in determining whether there is sufficient evidence to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's left ankle tendonitis was reduced from a 20 percent rating to a 10 percent rating, but the reduction was found improper and the original 20 percent rating is restored.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and right wrist conditions due to insufficient medical opinions in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to additional development being required, including consideration of new medical records and examination reports.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including a right wrist disability, left wrist disability, neck disability, and right ankle disability. The decision also denied an earlier effective date for tinnitus.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a left rib condition is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle, hip, and respiratory conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including bowel problems, hemorrhoids, knee and ankle disorders, and a psychiatric condition. The Veteran's death certificate indicated he died of an acute kidney injury and colon cancer.

The Veteran's claim for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disabilities has been granted. The claims for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss, have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied. The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar back strain, right ankle residual status-post fracture, PTSD, complex cyst right kidney, and left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied an increased disability rating greater than 10 percent for right ankle sprain prior to February 26, 2021, finding the Veteran's description of his disability did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's hip disabilities, including right and left hip bursitis, were granted service connection from July 13, 2006. The effective date for the grant of service connection for right and left hip disabilities is set at July 13, 2006.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) and stomach condition are remanded for additional medical opinions to determine their etiology.,The Veteran's hypertension is remanded because no VA examiner has provided a nexus opinion on its presumptive service connection under the PACT Act. The Veteran's total potential toxic exposure throughout his military service must also be considered.,The Veteran's right and left ankle conditions are remanded for additional medical opinions to determine their etiology, specifically considering his in-service injuries and repetitive jumping with a 100-pound backpack on his back.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is remanded for an additional medical opinion to determine its etiology, specifically considering his in-service right ankle sprain.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's right knee, left knee, and right ankle disorders are remanded for further development.

The case is being remanded for additional development of the record, including obtaining Fresno VA Medical Center treatment records from July 2022 to present.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional VA examinations to assess the current nature and severity of his left ankle disability, as well as to determine if his OSA is related to service or a service-connected condition.