Ankle Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of left knee degenerative joint disease, lumbar spondylosis, and a left ankle disability due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and thyroid nodules are all being remanded for further development.,Specifically, the right ankle disability is being examined to determine if nerve damage exists and its relationship to other service-connected disabilities. The thyroid nodules need a medical opinion on whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of lower back strain, broken right hand residuals, and right ankle sprain residuals were denied as the Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left shin splints, right shin splints, left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, onychomycosis (right foot), onychomycosis (left foot), and right knee condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection cannot be established for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an opinion addressing whether the left ankle condition preexisted service and was aggravated by service. The Veteran's STRs show left ankle symptoms during both periods of service, raising questions about a possible preexisting disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including private treatment records from a motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right drop foot disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The AOJ is required to obtain a VA examination and provide medical opinions.

The Veteran was awarded service connection for right foot arthritis, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability with a 10% rating effective January 28, 2022.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities have been granted a 20% rating, effective from the date of the decision. The cervical spine and lumbosacral spine disabilities remain at their current ratings.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 22, 2021, for service connection have been denied as the evidence does not show a complete claim was received within one year of the intent to file.,VA has also determined that an effective date prior to July 22, 2021, for SMC based on anatomical loss of use of the bilateral breasts is not warranted due to lack of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically lumbar myositis, right ankle injury residuals, and hemorrhoids, have rendered him unable to work since April 8, 2011. His TDIU is granted effective from that date, as well as his eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 USC chapter 35.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disorders due to a lack of current disability or functional impairment during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability associated with the appellant's left and right ankle, and left foot conditions. Therefore, service connection for these disabilities cannot be granted.

The Veteran's tension headaches and hypertension are related to service.,The Veteran has current left ankle disability, but the evidence does not support a finding that it had its onset in service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle joint pain and right shoulder joint pain are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of her left and right ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in physical loss of use of one or both hands or feet, permanent impairment of vision in both eyes, severe burn injury precluding effective operation of an automobile, ALS, or ankylosis of one or both knees or one or both hips. Therefore, the Veteran does not meet the eligibility criteria for financial assistance to purchase a vehicle and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted as secondary to his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, lower back, and left ankle sprain status post fracture with surgical repair.