Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left ankle disability, finding that it had its onset during service and is related to a motorcycle accident in service.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ankle disabilities as the evidence did not establish a direct or secondary relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims due to a failure to provide a new VA examination and medical opinion in light of the Veteran's complaints of functional impairment, as per Saunders v. Wilkie (2018).

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to May 30, 2018 is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if she is unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities. The AOJ must refer the case to the Director of Compensation Services for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a groin condition, left hip condition, left foot condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and back condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's anxiety is found to be related to her military service.,There is no current evidence of a chronic headache disability for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic pain in the left foot, right foot, or right ankle.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic pain in the right ankle.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left shoulder, right ankle, and bilateral knee conditions are being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board will obtain examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate reasons or bases in the previous decision.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ankle condition, testicular cancer, diabetes, and left ear hearing loss due to insufficient information in the VA examination report. The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss remains denied as it does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include variously claimed ankle, hip, shoulder, and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's left ankle and hip disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected right quadriceps tear.,A rating in excess of 40 percent for the residuals, tear of right quadriceps is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of various rheumatoid arthritis conditions, finding that no formal claim was submitted within one year of her intent to file and that she did not submit a completed VA Form 21-526EZ as required.

The Board has denied service connection for right hip dysplasia, left hip dysplasia, right knee condition, left knee condition, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, respiratory disability, and left eye disability. The Veteran did not have any of these conditions during the appeal period or approximate thereto.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee replacement, and a new examination is needed to determine if it was caused or aggravated by this condition. The Veteran's evaluation for status post total left knee replacement needs to be reassessed due to inadequate previous examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic right ankle pain, chronic left ankle pain, right elbow strain (dominant), left elbow strain (non-dominant), chronic right wrist pain (dominant), chronic left wrist pain (non-dominant), and chronic left knee pain were denied in the November 2019 rating decision. The Veteran did not file a Notice of Disagreement within one year, so the decision became final.,The Veteran filed a Supplemental Claim on September 26, 2019, which was received by VA and granted service connection for these conditions effective from that date.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis, left ankle strain, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity. These conditions are related to in-service injuries sustained during active duty.,All four bilateral ankle and lower extremity conditions were diagnosed during or shortly after service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to unclear employment status and need for additional medical opinions regarding functional impairment without considering medication effects.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in the prior rating decision and has ordered additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood or obesity aggravated his OSA.

The Veteran's bilateral knee, back, right ankle sprain, right hip, and bilateral shoulder disabilities are granted as service-connected.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left ankle, sinus, and sleep apnea conditions. However, as these claims are remanded to the RO, they will be readjudicated in the first instance based on all evidence of record, including new and relevant information.