Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, right knee strain, left knee strain, and right ankle sprain, including resulting weight gain. The decision also acknowledges that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are risk factors for weight gain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since June 2019, leading to a TDIU effective from June 4, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left foot cellulitis scar, left knee condition as secondary to service-connected left ankle strain, and right knee condition as secondary to service-connected left ankle strain has been dismissed due to untimely filing.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left foot pain and right foot pain has also been dismissed due to untimely filing. The Veteran was granted service connection for back strain.

The Board has found the claim remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle disability. The case will be returned for further evaluation.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy have been denied as the evidence does not support a change in evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to November 9, 2020, for the increased evaluation of 40 percent for impairment of central visual acuity is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to October 16, 2020, for the increased evaluation of 10 percent for left ankle sprain is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various orthopedic conditions, including right shoulder osteoarthritis with impingement syndrome, left knee and hip chondromalacia, left ankle tendonitis, major depressive disorder, bilateral stress fractures, and a residual fracture of the right middle finger have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for awards related to housebound status, Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35, and Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) have also been granted.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as their VA Form 10182s were not timely filed, and good cause for extension of the filing period was not shown.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a right ankle disability, and the Board has dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board has remanded the lumbosacral condition, pinguecula, bilateral dry eye syndrome, right ankle condition, and right shoulder injury claims.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities remain at 20 percent each. Other conditions have been addressed or denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for these conditions based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since at least March 2015, and the Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 19, 2020 for this determination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ankle tendonitis and right elbow olecranon bursitis with lateral epicondylitis and medial epicondylitis have been granted. The claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for clarification on the Veteran's duty dates. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his left ankle disability, which he claims occurred during military training.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral foot disability, bilateral ankle disability, headaches, and sinusitis due to inadequate medical opinions in the initial decision.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection must be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. Specifically, VA did not attempt to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records and Georgia disability records which are potentially relevant to the claims.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain is granted a 20% rating, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral knee conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lower back bulging disc L4-L5, broken left finger with misplaced bone, right ankle sprain, and right hand injury due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran is required to be afforded VA examinations to determine if he has residuals from these conditions and whether they are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hamstring strain, mild osteoarthritis of the MCP and CMCP (claimed as injured left hand), sinusitis, and left ankle condition due to untimely filing of the VA Form 10182.