Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an opinion addressing whether the left ankle condition preexisted service and was aggravated by service. The Veteran's STRs show left ankle symptoms during both periods of service, raising questions about a possible preexisting disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including private treatment records from a motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right drop foot disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The AOJ is required to obtain a VA examination and provide medical opinions.

The Veteran was awarded service connection for right foot arthritis, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability with a 10% rating effective January 28, 2022.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities have been granted a 20% rating, effective from the date of the decision. The cervical spine and lumbosacral spine disabilities remain at their current ratings.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 22, 2021, for service connection have been denied as the evidence does not show a complete claim was received within one year of the intent to file.,VA has also determined that an effective date prior to July 22, 2021, for SMC based on anatomical loss of use of the bilateral breasts is not warranted due to lack of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically lumbar myositis, right ankle injury residuals, and hemorrhoids, have rendered him unable to work since April 8, 2011. His TDIU is granted effective from that date, as well as his eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 USC chapter 35.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disorders due to a lack of current disability or functional impairment during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability associated with the appellant's left and right ankle, and left foot conditions. Therefore, service connection for these disabilities cannot be granted.

The Veteran's tension headaches and hypertension are related to service.,The Veteran has current left ankle disability, but the evidence does not support a finding that it had its onset in service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle joint pain and right shoulder joint pain are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of her left and right ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in physical loss of use of one or both hands or feet, permanent impairment of vision in both eyes, severe burn injury precluding effective operation of an automobile, ALS, or ankylosis of one or both knees or one or both hips. Therefore, the Veteran does not meet the eligibility criteria for financial assistance to purchase a vehicle and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted as secondary to his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, lower back, and left ankle sprain status post fracture with surgical repair.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, depression, dizziness, light sensitivity, liver disorder, gynecological cyst, bladder disorder, headaches, allergies, hypothyroidism, cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left winged scapula, left shoulder disorder, right winged scapula, right shoulder disorder, left knee strain, right knee strain, and left ankle sprain were all denied as there was no evidence of a service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee retropatellar pain syndrome and bilateral ankle strain, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection. The PACT Act created a new basis for entitlement, requiring readjudication.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, low back strain, right ankle loss of range of motion with laxity and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of right foot and right ankle disabilities, as secondary to a service-connected left ankle disability. The VA opinions are inadequate due to insufficient rationale provided.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in denying a higher disability rating for service-connected right ankle sprain from May 4, 2018.