Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot disorder, left ankle condition, left knee disability, and left hip disability as there was no evidence of a nexus to service or any other related conditions. The skin and prostate disabilities were also not granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, right hip, left knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle strain and 5th metatarsal fracture of the left foot as secondary to his service-connected right ankle strain due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for an ankle disability and a higher rating for his depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder are being remanded due to the receipt of new VA treatment records. The AOJ will review this evidence before making further determinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for penile warts and scars, left shoulder have been granted with effective dates of January 30, 2018.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for chest pain, pulled muscle and a right hand disability remain pending and are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient examination findings. The examiner is asked to provide opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions, including considering obesity as an intermediate step between any service-connected disabilities and the Veteran's current conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for prostate hypertrophy, heart disorder, sleep disorder, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type II, chronic low back strain with degenerative changes, and chronic synovitis of both ankles. The AOJ is instructed to clarify whether the Appellant is the Veteran's surviving spouse and complete additional development as requested in previous remands.

The Veteran's pes planus was granted service connection. The Board has ordered remand for further development regarding other bilateral lower extremity disabilities and the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and pes planus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle condition due to the lack of medical or lay evidence showing she has a currently diagnosed right ankle condition.

The application to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder is granted. The claims for left knee, hip, leg, and ankle disorders are remanded due to lack of proper VA examinations and opinions.

Your appeal for service connection has been dismissed because you withdrew your appeal for the left shoulder and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral ankle strain rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 30, 2019. The Board granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, deviated septum, diverticulosis, and respiratory/breathing disability. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left elbow disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, dizziness, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are all being remanded due to the need for additional development.,No current diagnoses were found for any of the claimed conditions. The Veteran's reported symptoms during service did not result in treatment or diagnosis.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of left ankle disability, cervical spine disability, low back disability, and skin condition of the left foot due to the death of the appellant during the appeal process.

The appeal for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), other than migraine headaches is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the left shoulder disability and cold injuries to bilateral lower extremities are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, as he is unable to perform many daily activities without assistance due to his orthopedic and neurological impairments.

The Veteran's current pseudofolliculitis barbae had its onset in service and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The bilateral ankle conditions and hepatitis B claims are remanded due to lack of VA treatment records and need for a PACT Act compliant medical opinion.

The appeal for service connection for TBI, right knee disability, and right wrist disability is dismissed. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, left ankle disability, and dry eye syndrome are granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder and left ankle osteoarthritis due to a duty to assist error in failing to attempt to obtain treatment records from Orlando Foot and Ankle. The VA is instructed to request authorization for release of medical records at Orlando Foot and Ankle.