Ankle Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that no new and relevant evidence had been received to support these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right ankle disability. The rating for hematuria remains unresolved.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating from June 30, 2021. The left ankle disability and tinea versicolor are denied ratings in excess of the current 10 percent. Bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's cholesterol, right wrist arthritis, left ankle disability, and blood condition were not incurred during active duty service.,The Veteran's bilateral shoulder arthritis, left wrist arthritis, right ankle disability, and left arm scar pain do not have a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities have been denied as there was no claim filed prior to April 26, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II was dismissed. The appeals for right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were denied. The appeal for right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The left ankle disability remains rated at 20 percent, while the major depression rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability, a lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, all related to active duty service.

The Board has dismissed all appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle conditions, secondary to service-connected right knee and ankle conditions, must be remanded due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded all issues on appeal due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of various service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, left ankle condition, right ankle condition (claimed as residuals of right ankle sprain), and vision condition. Service connection was remanded for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension were also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition and hypertension are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder with other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, chronic headaches, right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis, degenerative arthritis of the spine, left knee strain with bursitis, chronic right knee strain, left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain, chronic right ankle sprain, allergic conjunctivitis, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities. As such, TDIU is granted from August 26, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle, right knee, left knee, left shoulder, low back, and upper back conditions due to insufficient evidence on record.

The Veteran's service-connected hip and knee conditions have been rated as noncompensable under the relevant diagnostic codes for limited motion. The Board finds that higher initial ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain and left knee anterior cruciate ligament tear and partial patellar tendon tear are granted. The effective date for the award of service connection is May 16, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder does not meet the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance due to his ability to dress, feed himself, and perform daily activities. He is also not considered housebound due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right ankle strain caused or aggravated his hypertension, and if so, whether obesity is an intermediate step in this causal chain.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disorders, but denied service connection for right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and bilateral or unilateral foot disorder. The denial of the latter three conditions is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.