Ankle decisions — 2024

The Veteran's initial disability rating for left ankle strain is granted at a 10 percent level, effective from November 17, 2020. The initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss remains noncompensable.,Service connection for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea are both established. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's disabilities of the cervical spine, left ankle, left great toe, bilateral knees, right shoulder, and lumbar spine are not attributable to his active military service.

Your claims for service connection have been denied because your Notice of Disagreement was not filed within the one-year deadline after the August 2019 rating decision. The Board dismissed all your claims as untimely.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder due to a lack of current disability, as no abnormal pathology or functional impairment was found on examination and VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle strain, left ankle strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, knee, back, neck, shoulder, and wrist disabilities as there is no current evidence of such conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was granted with an effective date of August 11, 2010. The claims for increased ratings for right foot tarsitis and right ankle tendonitis were denied. The claim for TDIU prior to November 4, 2011, is being remanded.,The Veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of August 11, 2010, which also raised a claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's right ankle gout is currently rated at 20 percent, and his left ankle gout is rated at 10 percent. The appeal for higher ratings remains pending.,The claim of service connection for finger joint pain in the left hand has been remanded due to a need for further medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left ankle disability and an increased rating for major depressive disorder with mood-congruent psychotic features, including earlier effective date, has been dismissed as the claims have been granted in full.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in fulfilling the duty to assist, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing adequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current neck, right upper extremity, left ankle, and left foot disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a prostate disability, left ear hearing loss, low back disability, right ankle disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC), due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities related to service or functional impairment.

The Veteran's left and right ankle disabilities are rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, with no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's TMJ disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling based on interincisal range greater than 34 millimeters without dietary restrictions to mechanically altered foods.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a link between these conditions and his military service.

The appeal regarding the proposed rating reductions for left and right ankle disabilities was dismissed as the Veteran did not appeal the actual rating reduction.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for multiple conditions due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's dates and types of service.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for both conditions, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review them.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability and chronic fatigue syndrome, but remanded claims for a right ankle condition, bilateral shoulder disability, and left elbow disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, left ankle deltoid ligament sprain, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, bilateral otitis externa, eczema, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with osteoarthritis, tinnitus, left varicocele, and cystitis, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted service connection for a right ankle disability and a right knee disability, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service injuries.