Ankle decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and effective date were denied. The back disability was rated at 20 percent from February 20, 2015, but the claim is not prior to this date.

The Veteran's low back disability is being remanded for further review, and his left and right ankle disabilities are granted a 20 percent rating each.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of various service connection claims, including those related to bilateral elbow, wrist, ankle disabilities, a skin disability, right shoulder pain syndrome, chronic lumbar spine syndrome, patellofemoral syndrome of the knees, PTSD with TBI, and electrical burn of the right hand. The Veteran's total disability rating based upon individual unemployability claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals of the claims for service connection for fracture, left middle finger (now claimed as left-hand injury), right ankle pain and locking, and jaw pain were dismissed due to a claims processing defect. The appeal was incorrectly docketed in the Appeals Modernization Act system.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or loss of use of a hand or foot, permanent vision impairment of both eyes, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of a knee or hip. Therefore, the Veteran is not eligible for financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board denied a claim for an increased rating for the Veteran's right ankle sprain, finding that his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability was granted, while the claims for left knee and left ankle disabilities were denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The Board is unable to make a decision on these matters without further evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury due to lack of evidence of an in-service event or injury, and therefore did not establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to an additional opinion being necessary regarding whether the Veteran's alcohol use disorder secondary to service-connected PTSD was the involuntary cause of his left ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for service-connected lichenoid dermatitis, service connection for respiratory disability, and service connection for left ankle disability are all remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and potential new evidence. The claims include left shoulder condition, back condition, bilateral ankle strain, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis has been granted. The claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, left shoulder, and right shoulder conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is also remanded as it may be related to an undiagnosed illness or toxic exposure in service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches has been granted.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disorder and major depressive disorder have also been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and back disabilities. The appeal regarding the right knee/leg and left knee disabilities is being remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for vasomotor rhinitis, service connection for right ankle disorder, and service connection for sinusitis disorder are not fully addressed due to new VA-generated evidence. The case is being sent back to the AOJ for review of this additional information.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is granted a separate disability rating of 10 percent for instability, but the initial ratings for other conditions remain denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability because no new and material evidence was submitted to support his claim, which had previously been denied in 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional development and evidence.

The Board denied service connection for respiratory, right ankle, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service. The Board found that any current disabilities were not caused by or aggravated by service.