Ankle Board decisions

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for left ankle arthritis effective January 1, 2025.

The Board granted a 50 percent rating for migraines and denied service connection for left elbow sprain, as well as ratings in excess of 10 percent for acute ankle sprain, and remanded claims for right thumb tenosynovitis, right shoulder repaired torn labrum, and S-shaped scoliosis.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle condition, but remanded claims for other conditions including neck, upper extremity radiculopathy, back, and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for a right lower extremity disability and remanded the claim for a left ankle disability.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder strain and remanded the claims for service connection for a traumatic brain injury, low back disorder, right ankle disorder, and total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for multiple musculoskeletal disabilities due to a lack of complete Reserve Service treatment records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board remands the claim for a right ankle disability to obtain a more comprehensive VA examination that addresses all current disabilities and considers the impact of service-connected foot disabilities.

The appeal for service connection for a left ankle disability and bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to an improper concurrent election under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for right ankle, left ankle, hearing loss, and headaches due to untimeliness of the Veteran's Notice of Disagreement. The appeal for a left shoulder disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities beginning August 14, 2018, and special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate beginning July 23, 2019. Other claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for right ankle tendonitis and degenerative arthritis prior to November 29, 2018, and a rating higher than 20 percent from that date.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection for right and left shoulder strains at 20 percent, and right and left ankle strains at 10 percent, all effective February 6, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for thoracic spine pain and cervical strain, but denied service connection for right 3rd digit residuals, hand tremors, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional abdominal pain syndrome/abdominal pain bleeding, allergy-induced asthma, a right ankle disorder, claimed as degenerative joint disease (DJD), headaches, and respiratory insufficiency (dyspnea).

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and remanded claims for facial scars, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including residuals of a head injury, bilateral hearing loss, neck disability, gout of the right ankle, unspecified trauma or stress related disorder, tinnitus, and other musculoskeletal issues.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, sinusitis, and sleep apnea but granted service connection for bilateral ankle strain and bilateral knee strain. The claims for increased ratings were also denied.

The Board granted service connection for headaches, right and left ankle disabilities, sinusitis, rhinitis, and irritable bowel syndrome, and granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected headaches.

The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for left ankle disability and a 40 percent rating for left lower extremity post-traumatic venous sufficiency, but the claim for a compensable rating for left ankle skin discoloration and/or disfigurement was denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and initial rating claims due to untimely filings, except for chronic sinusitis which was granted on a direct basis.

The appeal for a higher disability rating for left ankle strain is remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional examination.