Ankle Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for left ankle, left hip, left knee, right knee, and right hip disabilities based on the evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's in-service injuries.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the decision on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for service connection for various other conditions, as well as increased rating claims.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's major depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, chronic right ankle instability, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for sleep apnea and gastrointestinal disorder were remanded.

The Board remands the service connection claims for various conditions as additional medical evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the cases.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle pain, right ankle pain, left hip pain, right hip pain, and left knee pain but granted service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy and right upper extremity radiculopathy. The Board also denied a compensable evaluation for hammer toe deformities of the feet and a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative changes of the left acromioclavicular joint, while granting a single 10 percent evaluation for bilateral foot plantar fasciitis.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent rating for migraine headaches and an effective date of July 30, 2020, for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with agoraphobia, TDIU, DEA benefits, and SMC. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied increased ratings for the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety condition with insomnia disorder and denied service connection for right and left ankle conditions, pes planus, and a foot disability other than pes planus. The Board granted service connection for a foot disability other than pes planus and remanded claims for service connection for midback pain, cervical spine pain with disc herniation, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right leg, stress, right ankle, right knee, OSA, and left leg disabilities as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to in-service events.

The Board granted revision of the April 2007 rating decision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) for right shoulder degenerative joint disease, assigning a 10 percent rating effective January 1, 2007. Other claims were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left hip strain, right hip strain, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and right ankle ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 21, 2021 for service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis and denied a higher initial rating for the same condition. The claim for service connection for a right leg/knee condition was also denied.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and left ankle disability, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for a right ankle strain, acne with scars, left foot fracture, right knee tendinopathy, left knee strain, and tinnitus as the first communication from the Veteran to VA evidencing his intent to file claims for these conditions was received on December 5, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim for a lumbar disability, while denying service connection for a right ankle disability.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ankle strain, finding that there was evidence of an in-service injury and ongoing pain since service.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle disability and a right calf disability, but denied an increased rating for the right long finger disability.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle disability, to include as secondary to service-connected left knee strain. The other issues were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a right ankle condition, finding that the Veteran's injury occurred during inactive duty training and meets the criteria for direct service connection.