Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded two issues: entitlement to a TDIU based on service-connected left ankle conditions and an earlier effective date for DEA benefits. The Veteran's medical records need to be reviewed, and a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of his left ankle conditions is required.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal conditions are granted. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral lateral ankle collateral ligament sprain as secondary to her service-connected disabilities due to incomplete medical evidence. The examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's sprains were caused or aggravated by her service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a mental disorder and joint pain in multiple body parts. The evidence did not support current diagnoses or show that these conditions had their onset during service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased initial disability rating for left ankle strain and service connection for a left knee condition are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The case will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to service connection and increased disability ratings, including those for PTSD, right shoulder strain, right ankle tendinosis, facial scarring due to PFB, eczema, bilateral hearing loss, chronic left wrist disability, left ankle sprain, and bilateral eye conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis, left ankle sprain and closed fracture of lateral malleolus, and right ankle sprain were denied. The rating decision assigned a 40% evaluation for the lumbar spine condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and tinnitus, need further development due to a lack of an informal DRO telephone conference. The Veteran is requested to schedule an informal DRO hearing.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete records and issues with obtaining medical opinions. The right ankle disability, asthma, and hemorrhoids claims are all being reviewed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and left knee conditions, finding that these conditions began during his military service and have continued symptomology.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his service-connected left ankle disability and scar on the left ankle are being remanded due to incomplete records from a Department of Virginia Correctional facility. The AOJ must obtain these records and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and foot conditions due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service event, injury, or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's current right ankle disability is not attributable to her period of service, and the claim for service connection has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle, left ankle, right hip, and right knee disabilities based on continuity of symptomatology since active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle tendonitis, left ankle strain, and left knee strain with effective dates of October 15, 2018. The initial ratings assigned are 10% for each condition.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprains are each assigned a 10 percent rating from March 2, 2018.,The Veteran's service-connected residuals of the right foot fracture are also assigned a 10 percent rating from June 12, 1996.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and a left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The claim for right ankle disability was dismissed due to untimely filing.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for all service connection claims, including bilateral limb cellulitis, residuals from a heat stroke, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), skin disability, right ankle disability, left leg and joint condition, right hip pain, right leg and joint condition, left hip limitation of extension, and linear scar on lateral aspect of left ankle.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, and will consider each issue individually.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,The remaining issues, including cervical spine disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, stomach condition (dyspepsia), and migraine headaches are all remanded for further review.