Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include left ankle disability, myopia, and left eye corneal abrasion.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he or his authorized representative withdrew all remaining issues in the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a right ankle scar was denied. The Veteran's appeal for service connection for migraine headaches was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.,Service connection for high cholesterol was denied as it is not a disability for which VA compensation can be granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in several areas, including obstructive sleep apnea and spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition, left ankle cyst, and back condition due to outstanding service treatment records.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was restored to a 20% evaluation. The claims for bilateral ankle disability and foot disability are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle sprain and right knee laxity as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has granted a 20% rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability and service connection for a secondary scar. The attorney fees specified in the Fee Agreement are warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right ankle post-traumatic arthritis, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, shin, cervical spine, ankle, elbow, hip, and extremity conditions have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and left ankle sprain. The claims of service connection for neck disability, TMJ dysfunction, and ear disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided that service connection for plantar fasciitis is denied. The remaining claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis with chronic cough, anxiety, depression, insomnia, headaches, acid reflux with nausea, benign prostatic hyperplasia with voiding dysfunction, kidney stones, cervicalgia, lumbago, sciatica, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral elbow epicondylitis, a left knee condition, and right knee strain are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits due to incomplete VA examinations in July 2020. The Veteran needs new examinations to assess his right knee and left ankle disabilities, as well as further development of his insomnia and anxiety disorders claim.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for diabetes, left foot injury, left ankle disability, and left hip disability due to incomplete military personnel records and lack of VA treatment records. The Veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered after obtaining these records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left eye keratoconus and left ankle strain were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on pain, rest requirements, or episodic incapacity due to functional impairment.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated at 10 percent since August 2018. The Board has granted a 20 percent rating, the maximum under DC 5271, for marked limitation of motion in the left ankle.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS, left ankle instability, lower back condition, and right knee pain as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted, and the claims for left ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle disability due to lack of evidence of current disability at the time of filing and during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is granted a 20 percent rating, effective January 8, 2021. The right ankle disability and bilateral hearing loss are denied.