Ankle Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, to correct duty-to-assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for further development and examination to determine the nature, etiology, and severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The appeal was dismissed due to the lack of a current disability for athlete's foot, left foot pain, right ankle pain, and vision disorder. The claims for tinnitus and erectile dysfunction were also dismissed as they were fully granted in a subsequent rating decision.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right ankle impingement, left knee tendinitis, and low back condition to obtain an adequate medical opinion that addresses whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot disability, left ankle peroneal tendonitis, right ankle sprain, left knee patellar tendonitis, and right knee patellar tendonitis as the evidence did not show an event or injury in active service, or a line-of-duty determination for the Veteran's National Guard training.

The Board granted service connection for chronic sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The Board also granted ratings of 20 percent for a left knee strain and status post left fibula and left ankle fractures, status post surgery, with residuals.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, a right ankle disability, and a disability manifested by joint pain as these conditions were not found to be related to the Veteran's active service or exposure to environmental hazards in the Persian Gulf.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right ankle and knee disabilities to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, specifically failing to provide VA examinations to assess the nature and etiology of these claimed conditions.

The Board denied various claims for increased disability ratings and restoration of a compensable rating for the Veteran's left knee, bilateral pes planus, right ankle, left hip, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and right hip disabilities, as well as an earlier effective date for the 20 percent rating assigned for the Veteran's low back disability. However, it granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits, both effective August 22, 2019.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied it for a right ankle condition, while remanding the claim for an esophageal condition.

The Board granted service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, chronic left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and left and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis based on the Veteran's credible testimony of in-service injuries and continuity of symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted service connection for a right knee disability. The ratings for tinnitus, limitation of flexion and extension of the right hip, impairment of the right hip, lumbar spine disability, and left ankle disability were also denied or granted as appropriate.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right and left ankle, neck, right shoulder, left shoulder, left elbow, and right knee disabilities, as new evidence has been received that warrants readjudication.

The Board granted restoration of a 10 percent rating for the service-connected residuals of a left ankle sprain, effective October 1, 2020, and also granted a 20 percent rating for the period of the appeal.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and left ankle pain and dysfunction to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing whether the conditions pre-existed service, were aggravated during service, or are otherwise related to service.

The appeal for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder was dismissed as the issue is moot due to a full grant of benefits. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for other conditions were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and a TDIU prior to August 21, 2014, due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board remands the claim for a left leg disability, including the left ankle and foot, secondary to a right ankle disability due to an inadequate VA examination.