Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, particularly regarding his shoulder disorders and nasal surgeries. The claims for service connection have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and entitlement to a compensable rating are being remanded due to the AOJ failing to provide proper notice of his right to a hearing. The Board will now instruct the AOJ to provide such notice.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right ankle disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records from SSA and VA.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's right ankle sprain with pain and limitations in mobility, finding that his symptoms are functionally equivalent to ankylosis. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating as there is no evidence of actual ankylosis or ankylosis equivalent.

The Veteran's left sural nerve injury/entrapment and osteoarthritis of the left ankle are rated at 20 percent, while other conditions remain at their current ratings.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected left ankle sprain is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination conducted in October 2020. The Board will seek an adequate medical examination and consider all relevant evidence before making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left ankle disability was denied due to the absence of new and relevant evidence. The claim for service connection for a low back disability is remanded as there was a duty to assist error prior to the February 2021 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for scars, status post bilateral mastectomy for gynecomastia was dismissed. The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and migraine including migraine variants. The issue of service connection for right ankle disability is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on whether he should be granted service connection for ankle disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection for a back disability was not established, as there was no in-service incurrence or related to a service-connected condition. Ratings for right knee strain and right ankle strain were also denied due to insufficient evidence of compensable range of motion limitations.

The Veteran's left and right shin splints are rated at 10 percent each, with separate ratings for the ankle disabilities. The Board granted a higher rating of 10 percent for both shin splints.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and other disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of TDIU. Additionally, the Veteran is entitled to SMC based on housebound criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle, left foot, right foot, left shoulder, and right hip disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims at a hearing.

The Board has remanded the claims for ear infections, bilateral eye condition, heat injury, left ankle disability, and left knee disability due to new evidence.,The claim of service connection for a menstrual disability is denied as there is no current disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination in April 2022, which did not include range of motion testing and failed to explain whether pain on weight-bearing limited the Veteran's range of motion. The claim is now pending for a new VA medical examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that it was incurred during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and therefore a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the Veteran's right ankle lateral scar and has remanded the claim of a higher rating for his service-connected residuals, fracture right medial malleolus and calcaneus.