Ankle Board decisions

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the right ankle fracture with posttraumatic arthritis and a 10 percent rating for the painful right ankle surgical scar, effective from June 7, 2023.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and denied service connection for various other conditions, including cluster headaches, traumatic brain injury, allergic rhinitis, and others. Some claims were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for an initial increased disability evaluation rating in excess of 10 percent for right and left ankle strains due to an inadequate VA musculoskeletal examination.

The Veteran's service connection for GERD was granted, while the claims for left and right hand degenerative arthritis were denied. The rating for his right ankle condition was increased to 20 percent effective September 25, 2014.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and service connection, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

The Board granted the appeal as to the severance of service connection for bilateral elbow, left knee, and right ankle disabilities due to evidence indicating these conditions were incurred during the Veteran's time in service.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral posterior tibial tendon (PT) tendonitis, bilateral peroneal tendonitis, and left ankle sprain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability. The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral hallux valgus.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, neck disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right ankle disability, left leg shin splints, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right pinky finger disability, hypertension, tuberculosis, and GERD. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board granted service connection for chronic sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea as due to herein service-connected chronic sinusitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. It also granted increased ratings of 20 percent for the left knee disability and 30 percent for the right knee disability.

The Board granted the restoration of service connection for left shoulder benign scapulothoracic crepitus and remanded other issues for further consideration.

The claims for service connection for a back condition, left knee condition, and right ankle condition are remanded to provide the Veteran with notice of her right to a hearing regarding these claims.

The Board remands the issues of an earlier effective date, initial rating for a left ankle disability, and TDIU due to additional development needed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for a 20 percent rating for cervical IVDS with degenerative arthritis and segmental instability from December 22, 2021 to January 12, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right ankle strain, as well as left and right knee instability with degenerative arthritis, on the basis of the bilateral factor.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle synovitis and tenosynovitis, an autoimmune disorder, and diabetes mellitus due to lack of new and relevant evidence or a current diagnosis.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical strain, finding it related to the Veteran's service. The claims for lumbosacral and left ankle strains were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for left and right long finger strains, a right ankle strain, and GERD with hiatal hernia. The appeal seeking increased ratings for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, allergic rhinitis, and scars was dismissed due to severance of service connection.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and increased rating, finding that the earliest possible date of January 24, 2023, is legally required.

The Board granted service connection for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, digestive disabilities including irritable bowel syndrome with abdominal pain and nausea, pelvic organ disabilities, iron deficiency anemia, and genital herpes. Service connection was denied for acne, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, painful joints, left shin splints, right shin splints, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, respiratory infection, GERD, PTSD, anxiety condition, manic-depressive reaction, and psychiatric disorder other than unspecified depressive disorder with symptoms of suicidal ideation. An initial 50% rating was granted for the service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability to correct duty to assist errors, including verifying the exact dates and nature of the Veteran's service and obtaining complete service treatment records.