Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right elbow disability due to an inadequate VA medical opinion and potential pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle degenerative joint disease, left boot paresthetica, right boot paresthetica, and left lower leg calf strain due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions during or approximate to the pendency of their claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle, cervical spine, and left hand disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that led to current disability.

The Veteran's July 2014 VA treatment records indicated a worsening of his noncompensable service-connected migraine headaches, raising an informal claim for increased rating.,VA treatment records prior to March 2015 do not indicate any worsening of the Veteran's left shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities are found to be secondary to his service-connected ankle arthritis. His tinnitus is related to noise exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for hepatitis (including Hepatitis C) and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD). The left ankle disability and residuals of STD are remanded for further development.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss due to noise exposure during service. Service connection is denied for hepatitis (including Hepatitis C) as there is no evidence of current active disease or residual from prior infection. Service connection is also denied for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower and upper extremity neuropathy, right ankle disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The appeals were remanded due to incomplete development but have now been returned to the Board.

The Veteran's claim for an extraschedular total disability rating due to individual unemployability prior to August 25, 2014 was denied as he did not meet the criteria for such a rating based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the claim for an increased rating for the Veteran's right ankle condition due to its inextricability with other pending claims. Additionally, a retrospective medical opinion is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's right ankle condition prior to his death.

Your appeal for service connection for bilateral foot pain, bilateral hip pain, bilateral ankle pain, left hand little finger fracture, and left leg pain has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from May 12, 2021 to May 11, 2022.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The right ankle disability was not rated higher than 10 percent, while the specified depressive disorder was not rated higher than 50 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist and ankle conditions due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to procedural defects in the docketing of the appeals under the modernized review system.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are granted service connection, and the need for aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis, left ankle sprain, right shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, and left elbow disorder have all been granted service connection with the appropriate ratings.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of insomnia, migraines, and right ankle arthritis.

The Board has remanded the claims for consideration of all evidence, including recent VA examinations and treatment records.

The Board has found that the RO substantially complied with January 2023 directives. The Veteran's right ankle disability is remanded for a new examination to address his history of right ankle instability and whether it constitutes additional functional loss.