Ankle decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Parkinson's disease and its associated conditions, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since May 22, 2013.

The appeals of entitlement to service connection for various shoulder, cervical spine, ankle, knee, hip, and thoracic spine disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims during a hearing. The right ear disability appeal is also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to duty-to-assist errors and insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's right ankle conditions, including degenerative joint disease, plantar heel spur, and post-fracture arthritic changes, are being reviewed for direct service connection as well as causation or aggravation by his left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left and right ankle degenerative arthritis were denied as the evidence did not show symptoms more nearly approximating marked limited motion of the ankles.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining relevant treatment records and for a new opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability. The appeal will be reconsidered with these corrections.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, right hip, left hip, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during or are otherwise related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral wrist strain, right ankle strain, lumbosacral strain, and right knee strain are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records review.

The Veteran's appeal to reduce his left ankle sprain evaluation from 20 percent to 10 percent has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of adequate medical examination and opinion regarding her claimed psychiatric disorders, right ankle, bilateral knee, and right wrist disabilities. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional evidence within 90 days.

The Veteran's right ankle fracture is granted a 10% rating, but no more. Service connection for IBS and sinusitis are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since July 9, 2010. The Board has determined that the current ratings are appropriate as there is no evidence of more than moderate limitation of motion in either ankle.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, requiring additional medical opinions on whether the Veteran's disabilities are aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, vision disorder (blurry vision), psychiatric disorder (depression and anxiety), left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain due to potential errors in the initial decision-making process.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions including right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, left shoulder disability, inguinal hernia, pancreatitis, and rotator cuff tendonitis due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for psychiatric disability, broken ankle, torn rotator cuff, and irritable bowel syndrome as they are not currently pending. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is also denied a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) were denied as the earliest effective dates are January 28, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of her impairment of the left lower tibia and fibula, to include shin splints and ankle impairment with arthritis, is denied. The case is remanded for further evaluation due to TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability and a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to injuries sustained during active military service.