Ankle Board decisions

The Board granted a separate 20 percent rating for right ankle instability associated with the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, but denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the same condition.

The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, chronic, but denied earlier effective dates and service connection for left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and stress fracture of the right femur.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for residuals of right ankle sprain, allergies, bilateral flat feet, and a psychiatric disorder to provide notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, left and right hand conditions, upper or lower back condition, neck condition, left and right ankle disabilities, and left and right knee disabilities as there was no evidence of a current disability related to active service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues related to the right ankle, lumbar spine, cervical spine, and pes planus were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's left ankle and left wrist disabilities as there was no evidence showing that these conditions had their onset during active duty or were otherwise related to his military service.

The Board remands the claims for higher initial disability ratings and entitlement to TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted direct service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, an increased evaluation of 40 percent for the low back condition, and an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the left ankle condition.

The Board remands the claims for service connection as they require further development, including new medical opinions and additional evidence.

The claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right foot, right ankle, bilateral knee, and acquired psychiatric disorders are remanded for readjudication based on new evidence.

The Board granted service connection for headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral tinnitus, and a left ankle disability. The claims for increased ratings for a painful scar on the left thigh, sinusitis, and onychomycosis of the great toes were denied, as was the claim for left ear hearing loss.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to ensure that due process is followed, as the previous examinations did not fully comply with VA's duty to assist requirements.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased ratings, granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for left knee osteoarthritis with limitation of extension, and remanded claims for service connection for varicose veins and an earlier effective date for DEA benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left and right elbow conditions, left and right hip conditions, vision condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than major depressive disorder (MDD), a neck condition, a left shoulder condition, a left ankle condition, a right ankle condition, and a bilateral foot condition were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and right ankle sprain, restored a 20 percent rating for degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine effective May 7, 2021, and denied earlier effective dates and increased ratings for other conditions.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left shoulder and right ankle disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable criteria.

The Board granted service connection for left ankle osteoarthritis with tendinitis and tarsal tunnel syndrome, right ankle osteoarthritis, and an effective date of December 16, 2015, but no earlier, for the increased rating of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with calluses.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date for service connection and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance due to a lack of documentation regarding efforts made to contact the RO in Los Angeles, California, for records that might corroborate the Veteran's claim.

The Board remands the claim for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to clarify functional loss during flare-ups and the ameliorative effects of medication use.