Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to inadequate reasons and bases in the previous decision. The case is sent back for further development, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder and right ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board remands the matters of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, as additional evidence is needed.

The Board has remanded several service connection and rating issues due to the submission of additional evidence not previously considered by the AOJ.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity compartment syndrome peripheral neuropathies have been granted increased ratings.,A 40 percent rating is granted for the right and left lower extremities prior to April 24, 2024. A 60 percent rating is granted from April 24, 2024.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's right hip, left hip, left ankle, left foot, and cerebral aneurysm conditions as they were not incurred in or caused by active service and are not related to any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including retrospective opinions on the severity of his disabilities during flare-ups and repetitive use.

The Board has determined that there have been substantial compliance issues with the previous remand directives and thus, the claims are being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for non-specific dermatitis and tinea versicolor, and service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis due to insufficient evidence.

The appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed as the claims were pending under the legacy appeal system at the time of the April 2021 VA Form 10182, which is not within the AMA's jurisdiction.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability as secondary to his service-connected left ankle sprain, based on medical evidence that supports this relationship.

The Veteran's left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, heart disorder (abnormal heart palpitations), right shoulder disorder, and migraines are all granted as service-connected. The AOJ is required to obtain additional medical opinions for the heart disorder, right shoulder disorder, and migraine headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck, back, and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of adequate direct service connection nexus opinions. The Veteran is advised that additional evidence may be considered on remand.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress is granted a 100 percent rating. The ratings for left and right knee tendonitis, as well as the left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and right ankle sprain, are denied.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's right knee disability is also currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's left ankle condition is granted as service-connected, with a current diagnosis of left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain.,Service connection for sinusitis is granted at a 30% rating, based on the number and severity of episodes requiring antibiotic treatment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to failure to attend VA examinations and other issues.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, left ankle sprain, and left knee condition due to procedural issues and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error where the Veteran was not notified of his right to participate in a pre-adjudication hearing before the AOJ issued its initial decision on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of left ankle, right knee, and left knee conditions due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran's representative argued that his bilateral knee conditions are also secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability, which was not made in the pre-decisional period.