Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board has granted an annual clothing allowance for the right ankle brace used to treat service-connected right ankle degenerative joint disease (DJD) and right knee pain associated with right ankle DJD. The decision is based on the Veteran's continued use of the brace, which causes wear and tear on his clothing.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is granted with a rating of 40 percent effective April 26, 2020. The Veteran's left foot disability remains at a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for left knee strain and DJD, right flat foot and first MTP joint degenerative changes, and right ankle degenerative arthritis have been granted. The appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities from June 24, 2010 to June 14, 2016 precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for left and right ankle disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. A VA examination is needed to determine if there is a nexus between any diagnosed ankle disability or functional impairment of either ankle and an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and low back disorder. The Veteran's current disabilities were not incurred in or caused by active duty service.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a diagnosis within one year after separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis with meniscus tear, limitation of motion with arthritis in the left ankle, and limitation of motion with arthritis in the right ankle. The claims are based on continuity of symptoms since active service.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle condition as there was no evidence of a current disability and the Veteran did not provide sufficient lay or medical evidence to support his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed right ankle, lumbar spine, right knee, right hip, right shoulder, right wrist, left wrist, left elbow, and cervical spine conditions based on credible lay statements and medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's left ankle disability, including arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran failed to report for VA examinations and the Board finds she demonstrated good cause for missing them.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip strain with limitation of abduction, extension, and flexion, left hip strain with limitation of extension and flexion, and chronic ankle sprain were denied in June 2017. The Veteran did not file a timely appeal.,The Veteran requested readjudication of her claims on May 13, 2021, but the effective date for service connection was determined to be May 13, 2021, as she did not submit a substantive appeal within the required time frame.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, which is rated as moderate limitation of motion, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support marked limited motion of the ankle.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on housebound status as he is not permanently confined to his dwelling and immediate premises due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and right ankle disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 19, 2008. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective from May 19, 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle condition and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate opinions in the VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibrosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), shin splints, and bilateral shoulder disability is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches is granted.,Service connection cannot be established for a bilateral shoulder disability as there is no evidence of such condition during or within one year following active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right ankle conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses or treatment records.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, right lumbar radiculopathy, right ankle disability, and bilateral plantar fasciitis were granted effective May 4, 2012. The claim for left lumbar radiculopathy was also granted effective May 4, 2012.