Ankle decisions — 2024

The Veteran's tinnitus, cervical spine condition, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, retropatellar pain syndrome of the right knee, left knee condition, left shin condition, and ankle conditions are all granted as service connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence showing their onset during active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder condition, lower back condition, bilateral ankle condition, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The evidence did not meet the minimum requirements to trigger VA's duty to assist in these cases.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the appropriate ratings for various disabilities, including right and left foot hallux valgus, cervical spine disability, knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, heart disease, and bilateral insertional tendonitis. The claims are being remanded to obtain necessary examinations and evaluations.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral petrous apex cephaloceles, TBI, migraine headaches, and a bilateral eye condition. The claim for a bilateral ankle condition is remanded due to the lack of an adequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot pes planus, plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis, and calcaneal spur (left foot disability), left knee strain and patellofemoral pain syndrome (left knee disability), and right ankle degenerative joint disease (right ankle disability) on a direct basis.

The Veteran's left wrist disability is granted as service connected. The left ankle disability is denied as not related to service. The cervical spine disability is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for heel spurs is remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right lower leg pain and a right ankle strain are denied as there is no new and relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, right foot disability, and left foot disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these disabilities are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle has been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to incomplete STRs and inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PFB, left shoulder acromioclavicular osteoarthritis, and right ankle sprain are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions considering all evidence of record.

The Veteran's left and right ankle disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the highest rating of 30 percent for his right ankle disability since January 1, 2014. The claims for other conditions were denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if the Veteran's conditions of left knee DJD (limitation of extension) and limitation of flexion, as well as left ankle strain with degenerative joint disease, were present prior to the effective dates assigned in the July 2021 decision.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for left lower extremity (LLE) of the posterior tibial nerve, to include left foot strain, is remanded due to inadequate examination and duty to assist error.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his right knee surgical scar was denied. The Board found that the scar did not exist prior to the surgery and therefore, no earlier effective date is warranted.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his right knee surgical scar was also denied. The VA examiner concluded that there was no evidence of pain or instability in the scar.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disorder, radiculopathy of the left arm, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, sleep apnea, and right hip disorder are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.,Specifically, a VA examination is needed for each of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, right ankle degenerative arthritis, left ankle sprain, and left shoulder disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is already rated at the maximum allowed under applicable diagnostic codes, so a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, as evidenced by his inability to dress, feed himself, or perform daily activities without assistance. The Board has granted SMC based on this need.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left foot degenerative arthritis with plantar calcaneal spur and fragment at the periphery of the first interphalangeal joint, flat foot, hammertoes, and hallux valgus is dismissed as his claim has been fully granted. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle status post scope and talus microfracture is denied.