Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a chronic joint pain condition of the hands, feet, ankles, shoulders, and knees, bilaterally. The Veteran's current complaints were not shown to be related to his active duty.,There is no objective evidence indicating an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI) for joint pain.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine osteoarthritis and left ankle stress fracture, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee and remanded the issue of service connection for a left ankle disability.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been granted increased ratings of 20 percent, effective from May 16, 2016. The decision also grants an earlier effective date for the left ankle disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, while his dyslipidemia and other disabilities are denied. The case is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

Service connection is granted for a right ankle sprain prior to August 2, 2023. Service connection since that date and for bilateral shin splints are denied.,The Veteran's liver disorder and obstructive sleep apnea have not been evaluated in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obesity (claimed as weight gain/body mass index) has been reopened, but the condition is not considered a disease or disability for VA purposes and therefore cannot be granted. The claims for increased ratings for right ankle and left ankle disabilities are remanded for further development. The claim for specially adapted housing and TDIU remains pending.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on his service-connected disabilities, which include tinnitus and major depressive disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion and a need for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a left ankle disability is denied.,The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea claims are reopened, but denied on the merits.,The Veteran's eye disability (bilateral) claim is reopened, but denied on the merits.,The Veteran's lung disability (bronchitis), colon disability (ulcerative colitis), erectile dysfunction and/or vasectomy, kidney stones, and hypertension claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the remand directives and another remand is required for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left ankle condition, right foot condition, and pes cavus.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is now rated at 20 percent effective October 7, 2021. The rating for hypothyroidism remains unchanged.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including neck pain, ankle and hip pain, hand and elbow pain, migraine headaches, psychomotor epilepsy, periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), chronic fatigue syndrome, prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board grants total disability for individual unemployability (TDIU) throughout the period on appeal.

The Board has determined that additional evidence should be obtained and the claims remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including right knee, left knee, right ankle, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), hepatitis disorder, and left shoulder disabilities. The decision also referred the issue of service connection for a right shoulder disability back to the AOJ.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle and right knee disabilities as there is no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, left shoulder, and right shoulder disorders due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during active service or are related to in-service injuries.,Specifically, the VA examiners found no chronicity of the claimed right ankle instability with sinus tarsi syndrome or left shoulder degenerative arthritis and degenerative joint disease with tendinosis prior to their diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to May 9, 2022.