Ankle decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to her inability to use assistive devices as a normal mode of locomotion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back, lower extremities, shoulder, ankle, wrist, and knee conditions, have caused him to be in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA clinical records.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lateral collateral ligament sprain, left ankle is being remanded as he has submitted evidence indicating an increase in his occupational impairment since the October 2016 examination.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and entitlement to a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss are being remanded due to inadequate rationale provided by the VA examiner.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability is being remanded as there was no medical evidence of any pre-service injury or condition, and the need for an examination with opinion regarding whether it clearly and unmistakably preexisted service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability is being remanded due to inadequate rationale provided by the VA examiner. The need for an examination with opinion regarding whether it was related to a February 1988 inservice incident is also needed.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as there are inextricably intertwined issues that must be addressed first.

The Veteran's left upper extremity pain is granted as compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to unforeseeable consequences of VA treatment.,Service connection for a right ankle disability is granted, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including back, neck, lower extremity radiculopathy, knee, ankle, and hypertension. The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.,Service connection was denied as there was no credible medical evidence linking any current disability to service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided for the Veteran's bilateral feet, left ankle, left hip, and lumbar spine were inadequate. The claims are being remanded to obtain a new and adequate VA opinion to determine whether these disabilities were caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for hearing loss was dismissed.,Service connection for sleep apnea, left ankle gout, right ankle gout, left foot gout, and right foot gout were granted as secondary to hypertension.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine was granted as secondary to residual fracture of the left ankle and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, TBI, and associated headaches were granted service connection effective May 30, 2019. The effective dates for the other issues are denied as they predate this decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for hypertension, a colon condition to include gastritis, ulcers, and intestinal metaplasia, GERD, right hip condition, left hip condition, left ankle condition, right knee condition, and sleep apnea syndrome.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no current disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's left ankle disability claim is denied as the evidence does not show marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under section 1318 were also not met.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right ankle disability and service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The Board found no evidence of aggravation by service for his preexisting knee and shoulder conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning in a previous addendum opinion and the need for an updated SSOC. A new examination is required to determine if the Veteran's right ankle disability has been aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The appeal for service connection was dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has granted service connection for vasovagal syncope and a left ankle condition, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service.

The evidence does not support the Veteran's claims of a bilateral foot, ankle, lower extremity radiculopathy, back, shoulder, or left knee condition as being related to service.,There is no current disability found for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining claims are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the evidence does not establish a causal relationship between the current disability and an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary for the Veteran's back disability, lower extremity radiculopathy, neck disability, ankle disabilities, hearing loss, tinnitus, and headache disability due to potential service connection issues.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle sprain, finding that the preexisting condition worsened during service.,Service connection for a fever disorder was denied as there is no current disability of Q Fever or any other infectious disease.