Ankle Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as currently diagnosed, related to in-service military sexual trauma (MST).

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, chronic cough syndrome, left and right ankle disabilities, right shoulder disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, earlier effective dates for PTSD and non-painful right index finger scar, and a higher rating for painful right index finger scar. However, the Veteran was granted an initial 50 percent rating for service-connected PTSD.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to incomplete VA examinations.

The Board denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for the right ankle disability prior to September 1, 2020, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, as well as total disability due to individual unemployability.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left foot plantar fasciitis with bilateral pes planus, and right ankle chronic instability but denied service connection for a left groin strain.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability due to outstanding records and the need for clarification of lay statements.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle, and right knee disabilities as the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) and remanded the claims for diabetes, hypertension, skin pigmentation, heart murmur, hip replacement, and left leg injury to include a left ankle and left knee condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability as the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current condition was related to an in-service injury.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right ankle disability, resolving any reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right ankle condition and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as a 100 percent evaluation for persistent depressive disorder.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and increased the rating for obstructive sleep apnea to 50 percent, while denying service connection for hypertension and other claims.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for left ankle scar and entitlement to a compensable rating was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal in May 2018.

The Board granted service connection for a right hip condition, back condition, and right ankle strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, mood disorder with depressive and anxious features, benign growth of the spinal cord with spondylosis and anterolisthesis, residuals of right ankle sprain with traumatic arthritis, and otitis media, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted service connection for right and left hand conditions, a 50 percent rating for migraines, and remanded several other claims for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right upper extremity neuropathy, to include as secondary to a right elbow condition and denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The Board also remanded several claims for further development.

The Board denied service connection for various knee, ankle, and foot disorders as well as special monthly compensation based on the need of aid and attendance or housebound status due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted an increased, 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's right ankle sprain/calcaneal spurs and service connection for cervical spine, major depressive disorder, left ankle, and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to his right ankle condition.