Ankle Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the claim for a right ankle condition due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The appeal of entitlement to service connection for an opiate dependency disorder is dismissed, and the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. Several other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and entitlement to a TDIU prior to June 24, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for left knee strain and denied an earlier effective date for tinnitus. The other issues related to bilateral ankle disorder, ulcer/pocket in stomach, and bilateral ear cancer were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, right shoulder disorder, headaches, and low back disorder. The Board also denied an increased rating for PTSD with recurrent major depressive disorder, mild, with anxious distress (PTSD) from October 22, 2020 to July 10, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle, knee, and foot disorders as they were not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service nor caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain/left ankle deltoid ligament sprain, effective February 3, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and various other disabilities due to the lack of evidence supporting a current diagnosis or a link to active duty.

The claims for service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and a right ankle strain are remanded to obtain direct service connection opinions.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, while denying an increased rating for the right ankle disability.

The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent rating for IVDS, lumbosacral spine, and denied a compensable rating for sinusitis. The claims for increased ratings for IVDS and right ankle strain were remanded.

The Board granted restoration of a 40% rating for left ankle degenerative arthritis effective January 24, 2022, and denied an increased rating in excess of 40% from April 1, 2020.

The Board denied increased ratings for several service-connected conditions, granted a 50% rating for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder, and granted an effective date of October 11, 2021, for the award of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 21, 2010, for the award of an increased rating of 20 percent for right ankle scars was granted.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings of various service-connected conditions, resulting in the dismissal of all appeals.

The Board remands the matter for an adequate examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's left ankle disability without considering the ameliorative effects of any medication.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical examinations and opinions.

The appeals for service connection for a left ankle disability and a neck disability have been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle disorder and left ankle disorder.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for a heart disability, left ankle disability, and TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.