Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board remands the matter of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability for additional development, specifically an addendum medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle conditions due to insufficient evidence in the VA examination report. The examiner is asked to provide an addendum opinion considering the Veteran's lay statements of chronic symptoms since service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for right ankle disorder, digestive disorder (claimed as 'lower digestive issues'), hemorrhoids, gallbladder removal, and scar resulting from gallbladder removal are remanded due to procedural errors in the initial decision. The Board will order an examination for a right ankle disorder and obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the digestive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist arthritis and right ankle sprain are being remanded due to inadequate medical examination. The effective dates for the grants of service connection will be determined based on the date of receipt of the intent to file.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome and right ankle disability are not rated higher than the current levels due to lack of evidence supporting more severe functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle and left foot disabilities, as secondary to service-connected thoracolumbar scoliosis. The VA is required to secure adequate medical opinions on the etiologies of these conditions.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are denied as not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed left ankle strain, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder as there was no probative evidence linking these conditions to her service-connected bilateral foot disorders.

The Board has granted effective dates of December 27, 2020 for service connection of bilateral tinnitus with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), lumbosacral strain, right knee iliotibial band syndrome, and left ankle tendinopathy.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims have been denied. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis, instability, or other conditions warranting separate ratings. The Veteran's residuals from his left foot fracture do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided were inadequate and remanded for further examination to determine if the Veteran has current diagnoses for his claimed disabilities, including pain with functional impairment. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for these additional evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including right ear hearing loss, tinea unguium, actinic keratosis, and left calf pigmented nevus, have been rated as non-compensable. The three painful left shoulder surgical scars, left ankle achilles tendinitis, and right ankle achilles tendinitis are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and bilateral flatfoot conditions. However, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, these claims are being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle sprain with osteoarthritis, right ankle sprain with osteoarthritis, hypertension, and right shoulder condition have all been granted.

The Board has dismissed all the Veteran's claims as his death occurred during the pendency of these appeals.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the duty to assist and remands several service connection claims for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a failure by the RO to reschedule VA examinations and provide appropriate assistance in developing his claim while he was on active duty.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the maximum disability rating of 100 percent. Service connection for GERD, upper back disability, right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain, and lumbosacral strain are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a violation of the Veteran's right to a pre-decisional hearing. The claim for service connection for a left ankle disability will be reconsidered after providing proper notice.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand numbness, neck condition, bilateral knee condition, and headaches due to lack of current disability. The appeal is being remanded for further examination.