Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection on multiple conditions, and the claims are dismissed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle instability and secondary service connection for a right ankle scar. The decision also readjudicates the claim of service connection for the right ankle scar.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is denied because he does not have a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling, and his disabilities do not meet the requirements of SMC under this section.

The Veteran's shin splints of the right and left lower extremities are granted as service connection is established due to her in-service physical training.,The Veteran's shoulder, knee, and ankle disabilities are remanded for further development regarding their relationship to her Reserve service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right ankle disability, bilateral foot pain, bone fracture, and an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD, anxiety, and depression has been dismissed due to the concurrent election issue. The claims for headaches and hypertension are being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle pain due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ should have provided a VA examination/medical opinion prior to denying the claim.

The Veteran's appeals for the proposed reduction of facial scars, an increased rating for tinnitus, and service connection for migraines have been dismissed due to untimely filings or lack of good cause.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral pes planus, left ankle disability, lower back disability, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed due to untimely filing of VA Form 10182. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back condition, right knee condition, left ankle condition, and left wrist condition due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service symptoms are considered.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for disability evaluations and service connection due to improper claims processing. The cellulitis claim is remanded as a medical examination was not conducted.

The April 24, 1995, Rating Decision was reversed and service connection for coccyx disability is granted. Other motions for revision of the April 24, 1995, Rating Decision were denied or remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the increase in severity of his conditions was not factually ascertainable within one year prior to March 30, 2023.,The effective dates for the grants of service connection for left knee instability and right knee instability are also denied.

The Veteran's left ankle condition, diagnosed as a left ankle sprain and degenerative arthritis, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not show marked limitation of motion or ankylosis, which would warrant a higher rating. Therefore, the claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee strain was granted with an effective date of January 26, 2021. Her initial evaluation for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain remains at 10 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee condition. The reduction in rating for left ankle strain from 10 to zero percent was improper and restoration of the prior 10 percent rating is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle post-traumatic degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The case will be reviewed with the possibility of obtaining retrospective medical opinions or new VA examinations.

The Board has identified errors in the original decision and remands all claims for further development, including consideration of potential PACT Act exposure.

The Veteran's previously denied claim for bilateral ankle condition is dismissed.,New evidence supports the readjudication of claims for service connection for right knee, bilateral foot, and lumbosacral strain conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for all claims of service connection, including those for bilateral flat feet, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right CTS, left CTS, essential tremors, right ankle arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, and left knee arthritis. The appeal of sleep apnea was granted in a July 2024 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from securing and maintaining substantial, gainful employment prior to May 1, 2021. Her earnings exceeded the poverty threshold for each year during this period.