Ankle decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of April 1, 1999. Effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits are granted.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his right knee disability, including instability and limitation of flexion. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities were denied in a December 2006 rating decision. The Veteran filed new claims on July 14, 2011, which were denied again in November 2015. The Board found the December 2017 VA Form 9 was timely received, granting service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities effective March 19, 2018. The Veteran's claims are now remanded due to a lack of adequate examination regarding his bilateral knee flare-ups.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and left hip conditions to obtain additional medical opinions regarding their etiology in relation to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The veteran has withdrawn the appeal for service connection for anxiety, depression, left shoulder, right ankle, and right knee.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for left and right ankle deltoid ligament sprains, as the evidence did not support a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a causal relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that the preexisting condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by an in-service injury.

The Board has denied service connection for degenerative disc disease, compression fracture T6 and T10 and left ankle sprain as the evidence does not support a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for thoracolumbar spine, right and left knee, and right and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to errors in duty to assist.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's left ankle condition, finding that it was not aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, specifically regarding the range of motion measurements in weightbearing and non-weightbearing conditions for the left ankle disability. The Veteran's claim will be returned for a new examination.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral eye condition and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, while remanding multiple other claims related to various disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle and knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable criteria.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, left middle finger strain, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee pain with functional impairment, and right and left ankle pain with functional impairment. The claims for a left shoulder disability, stomach disability, and an anxiety disorder were denied or remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left knee, ankle pain, or foot disability. The evidence is against finding any such disabilities at any time during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated as noncompensable, with less frequent attacks without characteristic prostrating attacks.,The Veteran's left knee strain is currently rated at 10 percent, limited to 80 degrees of flexion and full extension.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board cannot issue a decision on the above-captioned claims at this time.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and left hip disability, as the evidence did not support current disabilities or symptoms that cause functional impairment of earning capacity. The claims for a left knee disability, right ankle disability, and right foot disability were remanded for further examination.