Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for left foot disability, left ankle disability, left hand disability, and hypertension. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of entitlement to service connection for left and right ankle disorders, as well as a bilateral rib disorder. The case will be remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 30, 2018 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 30, 2018 for a higher rating for back disability is denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 30, 2018 for bilateral hip limitation of flexion and right ankle disability are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 30, 2018 for a higher rating for left hip limitation of flexion is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 12, 2015 for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension under the PACT Act presumption of service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hand condition, right ankle condition, and bilateral eye condition. The evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address the etiology of the Veteran's generalized arthritis disorder, including whether it is related to service-connected disabilities and obesity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left wrist disability, right foot/ankle disability, and acquired psychiatric disability due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition, an increased rating for left ankle sprain, and an increased rating for right thumb disability.,There is no current diagnosis of a right ankle condition. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's left ankle sprain or right thumb disability are related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and a TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to new evidence being added to the file since the April 2020 SOC.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hand, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and ankle disabilities due to inadequate reasoning in previous decisions.

The Veteran's bilateral arm disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral shoulder disabilities. The remaining claims for joint pain, knee, ankle, and wrist disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The claim for sleep apnea remains remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's willingness to attend VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to concerns about the competency of the VA examiner who conducted the recent examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, neuropathy, and ankle conditions due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's right peroneal nerve radiculopathy is granted a 10% rating, while the right ankle tendonitis status post Bostrom repair remains at 10%. The claims for service connection related to sleep apnea and heart conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion addressing functional impairment during previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's L4-5 spine condition, to include L4-5 spinal fusion, has been granted service connection. The initial rating for left ankle sprain remains at 10 percent and the increased rating for lumbar spine disability is remanded.

The Board dismissed the issue of service connection for obesity. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for stiff person syndrome, lumbar strain, right and left ankle/leg disabilities, and left-sided facial pain are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,A new VA examination is required to determine if these conditions were incurred during active service or are otherwise related to in-service events.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current left ankle pain is not related to an in-service injury or event.