Ankle Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for a cardiovascular disability and a lumbosacral spine disability on an accrued benefits basis, but denied service connection for a chronic fatigue disorder and a right ankle disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left big toe, left ankle, and right ankle disorders to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension is granted, while the evaluation greater than 20 percent for hemorrhoids is denied. Several claims for service connection are remanded.

The Board granted higher initial ratings for the Veteran's left and right ankle disabilities, but remanded claims for service connection for a left hip disability, a right hip disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability evaluation for right ear hearing loss, dismissed his claim for an increased rating for left ankle disability, and dismissed his claim for service connection for vertigo due to procedural defects.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and migraine headaches for further development, and found no current disability of the right ankle.

The Board granted service connection for left and right ankle disabilities based on credible reports of in-service injuries and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's back and left ankle disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings, but his service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted service connection for Achilles' tendon rupture of the left ankle as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee conditions.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, to include as secondary to right foot pain, for further development and readjudication.

The appeal of the denial of service-connected compensation for claimed disabilities and claims for increases in disability ratings was dismissed due to untimely filing.

The Board granted service connection for dermatosis and denied the claims for service connection for a chronic cervicothoracic pain disability, right shoulder disability, PTSD, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, ED, sleep apnea, left ulnar pain, right ulnar pain, left ring finger disability, right ankle surgery residuals with residual status post achilles enthesophyte excision, left knee disability, right knee disability, right wrist strain, and headaches.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and prostate cancer as the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to in-service injuries or exposures.

The Board granted service connection for dermatosis and denied the claims for service connection for a chronic cervicothoracic pain disability, right shoulder disability, PTSD, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, ED, sleep apnea, left ulnar pain, right ulnar pain, left ring finger disability, right ankle surgery residuals with residual status post achilles enthesophyte excision, left knee disability, right knee disability, right wrist strain, and headaches.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an increased evaluation for service-connected left ankle, special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, as well as effective dates prior to certain dates for dermatitis, IBS, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeals for service connection and rating claims, and they are hereby dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection for right ankle pain was granted, while his claims for ED and prostate cancer were denied.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and higher ratings for various disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, residual surgical scar of the right shoulder, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with depressive disorder, left foot plantar fasciitis with pes planus and metatarsalgia, fracture of the left ankle, and residuals, fracture, left third metacarpal/long finger.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent evaluation for left ankle sprain from August 18, 2020, and a 30 percent evaluation for the left foot disability. The claims for increased ratings for painful and unstable left ankle scars and residual left ankle scars were denied, as was the claim for TDIU.