Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and migraine headaches, as well as multiple painful joints in the back, hands, ankles, and feet.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis of sinusitis and the symptoms are attributed to rhinitis.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for MS with dysphasia and constipation is denied as her symptoms do not warrant a higher combined rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), a stomach disorder (to include GERD), a leg disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, a cervical spine disorder, a right ankle disorder, a left ankle disorder, a right hip/thigh disorder, a left hip/thigh disorder, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder for further development.,The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence of current disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disc degeneration is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,The Veteran's hernia (specifically umbilical hernia and inguinal regions) is denied due to lack of chronicity of care during service.,The Veteran's left knee strain (patellofemoral pain syndrome and chronic sprain) is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its onset in service.,The Veteran's left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain is remanded as the VA examiner found no evidence of chronicity of care during service.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder are all remanded due to lack of medical records documenting ongoing treatment or diagnosis in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The issues are related to his active service as a parachutist.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of a 30 percent rating and a rating in excess of 30 percent for left ankle injury status post partial synovectomy and excision of tibial exostosis has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to October 25, 2013, for the award of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and depression has been dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied claims for hammertoe deformities of the feet, flat feet, hallux rigidus/limitus, hallux valgus, right hip disability, left hip disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and cervical spine disability. The Veteran's laceration scar on his forearm was granted an initial 10% rating effective May 11, 2018.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for GERD was denied. The claims of service connection for gout and right ankle disability were remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee pain/strain, left knee pain/strain, a left ankle disability, and tinnitus due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's active service included Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as an initial rating for service-connected left Achilles tendonitis. The appellant's left Achilles tendonitis is rated at a 20 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding no evidence of an earlier claim or entitlement to service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations of record are inadequate for adjudication as they did not apply the correct standard of proof, did not address worsening or aggravation, and did not support the findings with an adequate rationale. The Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, left hip, and right hip disabilities secondary to service-connected disabilities must be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various ankle and knee conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for left ankle, right ankle, and low back conditions have been dismissed. The Veteran's right knee disability and OSA were granted service connection.

The appeals for reductions in ratings for right knee instability and left knee instability are dismissed.,Entitlement to an initial rating of 10% for limitation of extension of the left knee is granted.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10% for the right ankle disability is denied.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10% for the surgical scar of the right knee is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding his right and left ankle strains, effective as of August 31, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation for the period from May 5, 2013 to April 22, 2017. The Board granted TDIU based on this evidence.

The Veteran's claims for PFB and a right ankle sprain have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's PTSD, left ankle disability (based on limitation of motion and pain), and migraines are all service-connected. However, the Veteran does not receive a higher initial rating for his PTSD or left ankle disability based on limitation of motion and pain. A separate 10% rating is granted for left ankle instability. The Veteran's initial rating for migraines remains at 30 percent.