Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for high blood pressure, diverticulitis, residuals of tuberculosis, left ankle disorder, migraine disorder, and sinusitis must be remanded due to inadequate prior examinations. New examinations are required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right ankle disability, hypertension, low back disability, neck disability, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome. The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence of a current condition related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral knee and right ankle conditions, and hemorrhoids. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his military service.

The appeal for service connection for treatment purposes only under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17, for a right ankle condition is dismissed as the appellant withdrew the issue prior to the decision being made. The character of discharge from service issue is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle shin splints are granted a 10% rating.,Service connection for the Veteran's back disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left ankle disorder is secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has dismissed all pending claims for service connection and disability evaluations due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a right fibula fracture with ankle pain and entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, as secondary to service-connected right knee arthritis or service-connected right knee fibula fracture with ankle pain.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including Bell's palsy, headaches, left foot numbness, right foot numbness, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability, are remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, an eye condition (to include vision problems), breathing problems, a left knee condition, a right knee condition, a right ankle condition, sleep apnea, and skin rash have been dismissed as the Veteran did not appeal these issues in his VA Form 9.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for chronic headaches. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left ankle condition and a left knee condition, including as secondary to a left ankle condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of injury to right ankle with history of neuroma and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine have been denied as there is no evidence that warrants a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for low back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, and lower extremity radiculopathy due to lack of authorization from the Veteran's private treatment provider.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the Veteran's request for VA examiners' curriculum vitae and the need for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examination findings. Additional evidence is requested, including VA treatment records from August 2023 onwards.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning in its previous decision regarding a rating higher than 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle. The Veteran's testimony during his May 2013 hearing was not adequately addressed, and the Court ordered additional development including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, bilateral ankles, and lower back conditions are remanded due to insufficient opinion regarding secondary service connection. The claims will be returned to the RO for further action.

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

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions are inadequate and the claims for service connection must be remanded again. The Veteran's left knee, right shoulder, back, bilateral ankles, and erectile dysfunction disabilities are being reviewed to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection for a left wrist TFCC tear is granted. The rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for benign prostatic hypertrophy with urge incontinence (BPH) is also granted.