Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for left ring finger splint (left hand arthritis), repair of laceration, left ring finger (left ring finger scar), trauma to right ankle (right ankle disability), Crohn's disease, and sigmoid colon polyp as the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.,The Board found that there was no credible evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, considering his education and work history. Therefore, TDIU is granted.

The Board has found errors in the AOJ's notice and requires that a pre-decisional hearing be provided to the Veteran before the AOJ on all reopened claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to errors in the duty to assist, including failure to provide proper notice of VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected conditions, including depressive disorder, right and left patellar tendonitis, left knee anterior instability, and right ankle sprain. As such, the appeal for service connection of OSA has been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for limited motion of left ankle, right ankle, and cavity as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, right ankle, and left ankle conditions incurred during active duty parachute jumps. The Veteran's current pain and swelling in these joints are considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability and left ankle deltoid ligament sprain, finding that his symptoms began in service and have persisted.,The Board also granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee pain as secondary to his service-connected left ankle deltoid ligament sprain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for left ankle condition and right shoulder condition due to a failure to provide adequate notice regarding scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's mood disorder is rated at 70 percent, and his degenerative arthritis of the right ankle is rated at 20 percent. The appeal for a higher rating for the mood disorder is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, radiculopathy affecting both lower extremities, bilateral plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, pseudo folliculitis, ankle disorders, shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, jock itch, adjustment disorder with anxiety, acid reflux, athlete's foot and toenail fungus, and epiphora. The Board found no current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, including bone spurs and lateral collateral ligament sprain, is rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects his functional limitations.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee and ankle disabilities have been denied. The RO continued the existing 10 percent ratings for each joint.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including traumatic brain injury, vertigo, shoulder disabilities, elbow and wrist disabilities, hand disabilities, hip disability, ankle disabilities, respiratory breathing problems, frontal sinusitis, and rhinitis are denied. The Board notes that the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to fine particulate matter during his service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War.,Service connection for frontal sinusitis and rhinitis is granted based on presumptive exposure to fine particulate matter due to service in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder is dismissed because the Veteran was already receiving service connection for this condition effective August 8, 2021. The claims for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, back disorder, and stomach disorder are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the right ankle disability is caused or aggravated by the service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder and right ankle conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues related to service connection, including headaches, ankle injuries, groin muscle pain, foot disabilities, elbow and knee conditions, lumbar spine issues, and a condition affecting the two middle fingers of the right hand. The Board dismissed the appeal as withdrawn.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective from January 1, 2012, as his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.