Ankle Board decisions

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a left ankle disability to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature of the Veteran's claimed left ankle disability and whether it resulted in functional loss during the appeal period.

The appeal for service connection for a right ankle disability was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Board granted service connection for insomnia disorder but denied service connection for right ankle strain, right knee strain, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for posttraumatic arthritis, right ankle and service connection for gout, right ankle. The decision also remanded claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's bilateral ankle and knee conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on moderate limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Board remands the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to conflicting information regarding the Veteran's ability to perform daily activities.

The Board granted readjudication of a service connection claim for a low back disability and remanded claims for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee condition, right shoulder pain, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 4, 2021, for the assignment of service connection for a left ankle scar and February 22, 2022, for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for a left ankle scar. However, it denied an earlier effective date prior to December 6, 2022, for the assignment of a 20 percent rating for a left ankle disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, while other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for various disabilities and conditions, including back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, left lower extremity scar associated with the left ankle disability, erectile dysfunction, and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including degenerative left and right hands and fingers, headaches, a left ankle condition, left foot sprain, a degenerative neck condition, and a left hip condition as secondary to a service-connected disability. The lower back condition, insomnia, and left arm numbness were remanded.

The Board remands the matters for further development, including scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left foot and ankle disabilities.

The appeal concerning the issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities is dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, left ankle strain, left wrist disorder, right ankle strain, right hip strain, and erectile dysfunction associated with right knee derangement due to an improper concurrent election.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder and sleep apnea, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to the right ankle and no current diagnosis of sleep apnea.

The Board denied the claims for initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right and left ankle degenerative changes at Achilles tendon insertion, finding that moderate limitation of motion warranted a 10 percent rating under both old and new criteria.

The Board denied increased ratings for various conditions but granted restoration of a 10 percent rating for right hip iliotibial band syndrome, limitation of extension.

The Board granted service connection for right knee gout as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected status post right knee arthroscopy, posterior medial horn lateral meniscus repair and dismissed the appeal for bilateral hand gout. The claims for left knee gout, bilateral ankle gout, and migraines were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left and right ankle disabilities, and left and right hip disabilities to correct duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all claims, including those related to a left ankle disability, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea.