Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the May 17, 2025, Board Appeal request was not timely filed with respect to the November 29, 2019, rating decision that granted service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy and denied service connection for arthritis, athlete's foot, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a left ankle disability, and scars.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings have been dismissed as the appeals were not properly initiated.,Claims related to service connection and effective dates have also been dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings have been remanded due to the need for further development of evidence. The Veteran is not entitled to higher initial ratings for his bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, right elbow scars, kidney conditions, lower back condition, ankle strains, or knee strains.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, with obesity serving as an intermediary step.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle, hip, knee, and foot conditions are remanded due to a lack of a VA examination or medical opinion. The Veteran served as an infantry rifleman and contends his current disabilities are related to this role.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection for various wrist and elbow conditions, finding that the Veteran did not submit the correct form within one year of receiving a decision.

The Veteran's attempts to appeal the January 14, 2020 rating decision were not timely filed and dismissed.

The Veteran's left and right ankle disabilities have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing (SAH) or special home adaptation (SHA) grant due to his respiratory disability, which is presumed by the PACT Act. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a permanent and total disability resulting in anatomical loss of use of both hands, burns, or residuals of an inhalational injury.

The Veteran's service connection for pancreatitis was granted with a 30% rating, effective November 15, 2023. The Veteran also received service connection for migraines and left ankle sprain with tendinitis, both rated at 30% and 20%, respectively, effective the same date.

The appeal of the proposed reduction in PTSD rating from 70% to 50%, and for service connection claims related to various joints and diabetes mellitus type II, has been dismissed due to procedural issues. The Veteran withdrew his appeals.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for chronic diarrhea with GERD is dismissed. The appeals for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for bilateral ankle disabilities are also dismissed.

The Veteran's back disability is now rated at 20 percent effective October 28, 2019. The right ankle disability appeal was withdrawn prior to the decision.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diverticulitis, type II diabetes mellitus, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The remaining claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypertension, diverticulitis, type II diabetes mellitus, sleep disorder, bilateral pes planus, left ankle/foot tibialis tendinitis, and left foot arthritis of midtarsal joint are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea as secondary to service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis, with obesity as an intermediate step. Service connection for Right Ankle Pain is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error that occurred prior to the initial decision. The Veteran's service-connected left tibia stress fracture is associated with residual disabilities of his left foot, knee, and ankle.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been granted service connection. The Veteran's right hip trochanteric pain syndrome is remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for left ankle degenerative arthritis, left foot degenerative arthritis, and left foot post-surgical scar due to an error in failing to provide notice of the right to a hearing on a supplemental claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, and anxiety disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tendonitis, left ankle was granted with an effective date of July 20, 2021.