Ankle Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for cervical injury/condition, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right ankle ligament sprain, and sleep disorder (sleep apnea).,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's sleep disorder, diagnosed as chronic sleep impairment and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PFB and vertigo have been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The gastrointestinal disability, including GERD and viral gastroenteritis, has not been established as related to service or secondary to PTSD-induced weight gain.,Left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and right ankle strain are also not found to be related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding neurocardiogenic syncope, cholecystectomy, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and an acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Board has denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding neurocardiogenic syncope, cholecystectomy, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that additional VA opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's left ankle and bilateral knee strain, as well as whether these conditions were caused or aggravated by her service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acne, eczema, sinusitis, a headache disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and left ankle disability due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary arteriosclerosis, and multiple joint issues, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since July 26, 2023. The Board has granted an effective date of that day for the award of a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, and foot conditions due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's sinusitis has not manifested in incapacitating episodes or non-incapacitating episodes that would warrant a compensable rating.,There is no indication of service connection via a presumption (PACT Act/Agent Orange/Camp Lejeune) or secondary to an already service-connected condition.

The appeal of the right knee disability claim is dismissed as it was deferred in a previous rating decision.,The appeals for back and neck disabilities are dismissed because service connection has been granted during the pendency of the appeal.,Headaches, right wrist, and right ankle disabilities are denied due to lack of current diagnoses.,Left knee and left ankle disabilities, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus are remanded as there is insufficient evidence or inadequate opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of increased rating for left ankle strain and reduction of disability rating for lumbosacral strain. The Board dismissed these appeals.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is granted a 10 percent disability rating, and his service-connected headaches are granted as secondary to his TBI.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a temporary 100 percent evaluation for his left ankle disability, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ankle tendonitis, left ankle tendonitis, and left hip joint condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding medication use and secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for tendinitis of hands, left shoulder status post repair of labral tear, degenerative disc disease of thoracic and lumbar spine, and right ankle strain. The Veteran's lay statements indicate that his conditions are related to military service, but VA medical opinions were inadequate in addressing these assertions.,The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder status post repair of labral tear and right ankle strain. The Veteran's lay statements indicate that his conditions are related to military service, but VA medical opinions were inadequate in addressing these assertions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to errors in notification letters.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted. The issue of an increased disability rating for his right ankle condition is remanded.

The Board denied all claims for earlier effective dates, finding that the earliest possible effective date for service connection is April 11, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ankle arthritis, left foot nerve damage and numbness, and right ankle sciatica nerve pain due to inadequate opinions in the February 2025 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in duty to assist, and requests additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and left heel disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection due to lack of evidence showing entitlement arose prior to April 30, 2024.