Ankle decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining military personnel records and medical records from his Air Force Reserve service, as well as a TERA examination for chronic bronchitis and asthma.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have made it necessary for him to rely on the aid and attendance of another person since March 30, 2016. The Board has granted SMC based on this need.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including high cholesterol, left knee disability, left hip disability, hypertension, prostate cancer, posttraumatic stress disorder, bilateral hearing loss, right hip disability with limitation of extension, right hip disability with limitation of flexion, right knee disability, and right ankle disabilities have all been denied. The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any diagnoses or complaints related to these conditions.

The Veteran's preexisting left foot pes planus and right foot pes planus were aggravated by active service, warranting service connection for these conditions. The Board also granted service connection for the aggravation of his bilateral ankle disabilities and plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied service connection for back disability, right ankle disability, eczema, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and shortness of breath as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for left knee and left ankle disabilities was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent for left knee limitation of motion on extension or flexion, but granted a rating not to exceed 20 percent for left ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip, knee, ankle, heel, and toe disorders that are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot pes planus.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for her right ankle disability is remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination provided in March 2022. A new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of her condition, including consideration of flare-ups and range of motion.

The Board granted higher ratings for the Veteran's GERD, right ankle, and right foot disabilities based on a finding of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the December 2012 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various types of chronic pain syndrome were denied, and the effective date was not granted earlier than May 2, 2022.

The Veteran's gastric ulcer with erosive gastroduodenitis is granted an initial 20 percent rating.,Other service connection claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted an initial rating of 10 percent. The Board finds that the Veteran requires continuous medication to control his hypertension, with diastolic pressure below 100 and systolic pressure above or below 160. His right and left ankle disabilities are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's back disorder is granted service connection. The claims for left and right knee disorders, as well as the right ankle disorder, are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left, right ankle conditions and a right hip condition due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which he contends are related to his active military service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal concerning several service connection issues, including for cervical condition, right lower extremity condition, left lower extremity condition, left ankle condition, left plantar fasciitis, lumbar spine back condition, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, cervical spine disability, and right ankle disability due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities. The claim for low back pain is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including a head injury, left ankle/foot peripheral neuropathy, and right thumb injury. The Board has remanded the cases of left ankle/foot peripheral neuropathy and right thumb injury.,For the claim regarding head injury including stitches, the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis related to this condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, limitation of motion of the left ankle, limitation of motion of the right ankle, and limitation of motion of the left arm were denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to service.,There are no indications that any of the claimed conditions have a direct link to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities due to a duty to assist error in the May 2021 VA examination report. The examiner is requested to provide an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of right ankle and foot disability, and right leg disability have been dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw these issues. The Board also found that a remand is needed for an examination to assess the severity of his service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety.