Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran has been granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation due to the service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left knee chronic gouty arthritis, right knee chronic gouty arthritis, and left ankle lateral ligamentous laxity. The claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as earlier effective dates, were denied.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right ankle disability due to an inadequate VA examination report.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis, granted service connection for tinnitus, and remanded claims related to the right ankle, low back, and residuals of a right triquetral fracture.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including pseudofolliculitis barbae, right shoulder disability, right ankle achilles disability, right toe disability, bilateral flatfoot, and tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance that these conditions were incurred in or otherwise related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's GERD was granted a 30 percent rating, while the left ankle strain was denied an increased rating between January 25, 2022, and June 8, 2024, but granted a 20 percent rating from June 8, 2024, forward.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for sinusitis and rhinitis, as well as service connection for a left ankle strain.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including ankle pain, chronic lower back pain, GERD, hair thinning/loss, IBS, and others, as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including GERD, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability, and multiple musculoskeletal and other conditions, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the claims for bilateral ankle arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, erectile dysfunction, degenerative disc disease, cervical, bilateral plantar fasciitis with arthritis and heel spurs, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Board granted an initial disability evaluation of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder and remanded claims for a higher rating for the same condition, as well as a claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher initial and subsequent disability ratings for right ankle strain, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 22, 2024, or a rating greater than 20 percent thereafter.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back, left ankle, and left hip disability as well as entitlement to TDIU due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and leg conditions due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, while claims for service connection for a back disability, to include back strain; a right ankle disability; a right knee disability; and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date, as the maximum schedular rating of 100 percent for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and traumatic brain injury has been in effect since April 19, 2019.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, with some issues being remanded.

The Board denied increased ratings for lumbar strain with disc degeneration, left knee sprain, and hiatal hernia but granted a 20 percent rating for left ankle strain.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, but no higher, on and after November 19, 2023.