Ankle Board decisions

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any found right ankle disability, considering in-service strain injury and preexisting pes planus.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), and unspecified anxiety disorder; gouty ankle and knees; and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension as secondary to sleep apnea, and separate ratings for right knee meniscal tear and right ankle instability were granted. Other claims were denied.

The Board remands the claims for higher ratings and related matters due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for left ankle status post fracture with degenerative arthritis and a 30 percent rating for bilateral foot pes planus with hallux rigidus status post foot strain, while denying an increased rating for right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and earlier effective dates for service connection, as well as service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left elbow, right ankle, and deviated septum disabilities to schedule VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical disorder, vertigo, hypertension, and right ankle disorder to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions and DEA benefits, as no formal or informal claim was filed prior to January 18, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a TBI, bilateral shin splints, right ankle disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right hand neuropathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and knee disabilities due to an inadequate medical examination.

The Veteran is granted SMC at the L rate based on the need for regular aid and attendance since November 1, 2017, but denied prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, from October 1, 2017.

The Board granted service connection for left knee DJD, left ankle DJD, left upper extremity, radical; ulnar radicular pain parasthesia, and cervicothoracic spine pain based on the Veteran's competent lay statements and a private medical expert opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial rating greater than 20 percent for residuals of a right ankle fracture and lateral collateral ligament sprain with osteochondritis dissecans, to include osteochondral fracture and degenerative arthritis, status-post Brostrom surgery.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability evaluation for migraine headaches and denied increased ratings for other conditions, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with compression fracture L3, spondylosis L4, lumbar strain, and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), among others.

The Board denied service connection for low back, neck, right ankle, left ankle, and hearing loss conditions but granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board remands the claim for a left ankle condition to obtain an appropriate medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including cervicalgia, left and right hip disabilities, right ankle disability, diabetes mellitus, neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, and a skin disability. The claim was also granted for a 20 percent rating for left ankle sprain with chronic achilles tendonitis and degenerative arthritis.