Ankle decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to new evidence received since the final December 2015 rating decision. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder are denied as there is no current disability at any point during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for a right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, left ankle numbness, right ankle numbness, left foot pain, and right foot pain due to a duty-to-assist error in not addressing whether these conditions are secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claims for left shoulder pain, right shoulder pain, low back condition, patellofemoral syndrome, patellofemoral osteoarthrosis, residuals of left ankle injury, and PTSD with sleep disturbances. The claims are now remanded for further consideration.

Service connection for chronic costochondritis is granted, and a 50 percent rating for tension headaches since December 9, 2019 is also granted.,A 20 percent rating for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain since November 2, 2020 is granted. The issue of a compensable rating (greater than 0 percent) for right ear hearing loss since November 2, 2020 is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ needs to obtain the Veteran's Social Security Administration records, including all disability determinations and associated medical records.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee, left knee, pelvic bone, head injury, left breast, costochondritis, jawbone, low back, neck, right ankle, right thumb, acne, scarring on the head, and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck, back, left shoulder, right shoulder, left elbow, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The decision is based on direct service connection due to evidence of in-service injury and continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left ankle surgery scar was granted, with a 10 percent rating effective from January 26, 2021.,An earlier effective date of July 24, 2017, for the 10 percent rating for the left ankle surgery scar was also granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his withdrawal. The claim for increased rating for right ankle degenerative arthritis was remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of left and right knee disabilities, as well as left and right heel disabilities due to a lack of proper medical examinations in prior decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including scarring (itchy) of the right shoulder, right buttocks, and knee; right shoulder injury; left shoulder injury; left knee condition; left ankle condition; TBI; and vision impairment. These conditions are related to his in-service motorcycle accident in April 2007.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors, inadequate medical opinions, and new theories of entitlement.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist and left ankle disorders, but the right foot disorder claim is remanded due to lack of development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various upper extremity and lower extremity disabilities, including those related to his service-connected left foot joint pain, right foot joint pain, and lumbosacral strain, have been denied due to the Veteran failing to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran has been unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities since December 21, 2013. The Board grants TDIU from December 21, 2013 to July 26, 2018.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service records are incomplete and remands for further efforts to obtain these records. The issues of service connection remain on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral ankles, knees, and back, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment throughout the period on appeal. As a result, his claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring new examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied service connection for various foot, ankle, hip, and knee disorders as well as nerve damage due to a lack of current diagnoses.