Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the appeals as they were not processed under the modernized review system (AMA). The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left and right ankle conditions are still pending in the legacy appeal system.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied because new and relevant evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to October 8, 2020, for the grant of service connection for a left ankle disability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not continuously pursue this issue and thus, the earliest possible effective date was not protected.,The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left ankle disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence from July 1, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA opinions regarding aggravation of pre-existing pes planus and development of plantar fasciitis and bilateral tendinitis during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes. The claims for low back, left and right hip, as well as left and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to insufficient medical nexus opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected conditions. The claim for right lower extremity nerve condition (claimed as pain, numbness, and tingling) is also remanded.

The Veteran's right foot disability is granted as secondary to her service-connected right ankle delta ligament sprain. The left foot, left shoulder, and right elbow disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left ankle disability was dismissed because the VA Form 10182 was not timely filed.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the lumbosacral disability were inadequate and remanded. The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral feet, ankles, and knees are also remanded due to inadequate VA opinions regarding functional impairment.

The appeal for service connection for a left ankle condition is dismissed due to an error in the claims processing.

The Board has found that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the claims for service connection for right foot, bilateral ankle, bilateral elbow and bilateral wrist disabilities. The Veteran's service-connected psoriasis may be related to his current disabilities but further examination is needed to determine if they are caused or aggravated by these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disorder may be related to his active service, and therefore remands for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection and rating for multiple joint disabilities, as well as hearing loss. Service connection for COPD is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's request for higher-level review was timely submitted, and thus the appeal is considered valid. The VA denied service connection for various conditions in a previous rating decision, but the Board found that the Veteran's submission of his request for higher-level review was timely.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from October 27, 2014 to August 12, 2020 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The TDIU was denied for the period from August 13, 2020 as none of his service-connected disabilities alone meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted readjudication of the issues of service connection for left knee, right shoulder, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities. The claims are remanded due to a lack of new and relevant evidence regarding these conditions since final decisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle condition is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disability due to inadequate VA examinations and lack of relevant medical evidence. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's chronic right ankle sprain is rated at 10 percent since June 5, 2020, and denied for an evaluation in excess of this level.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable since September 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for new examination opinions. The claims will be reconsidered with the additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 15, 2021, for the award of service connection for right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain is denied. The Board found that no unadjudicated claim existed prior to the receipt of the Supplemental Claim application on September 18, 2021.