Ankle Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to March 3, 2014, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular evaluation (10%) and no higher, as it does not present an exceptional disability picture for extraschedular consideration.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated at Level I, which is noncompensable. The Veteran contends that a compensable rating is warranted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for right ankle, shin, knee, and femur disabilities. The appeal is currently remanded to determine the nature of these disabilities.,Service records show stress fractures in the tibia, femurs, and ankles during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to inadequate opinions in the May 2022 VA examinations. The Veteran is requested to provide new VA examinations that capture any functional loss associated with pain and address whether her conditions are caused or aggravated by service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle pain as there is no current diagnosis of a right ankle condition.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate-related disabilities are found to be the primary cause of his depression, which is granted as secondary service connection. The left ankle disability claim is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent, right ear hearing loss at 10 percent, and the remaining conditions are not granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle strain but denied service connection for hearing loss disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no substitution request was made within the required timeframe.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 18, 2021 for the grant of service connection for painful left and right ankle scars. The Veteran's complaints of pain at the site of his scars were consistent since he submitted a claim for increased ratings on August 20, 2021.

The Veteran's GERD and ankle, knee, hip disabilities were all denied increased ratings.,Specifically, the Veteran's GERD was rated at 10 percent, his right ankle disability at 10 percent, his left knee and right knee disabilities at 10 percent each, his left hip disability based on limitation of extension at 10 percent, his left hip disability based on limitation of flexion at 10 percent, and his right hip disability based on limitation of abduction at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, pulmonary fibrosis, hypertension, bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, and post-operative right ankle fracture as the evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee disability is remanded. The issue remains on appeal and will be considered by the AOJ in the adjudication of those claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal regarding his service connection claims for right ankle, right shoulder, and neck disorders due to a finding that the February 2018 Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was not timely filed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and right ankle disability due to incomplete medical opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on exposure to burn pits during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The case is now pending with a request for a supplemental examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a left ankle disability and unspecified anxiety disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain. The claim of service connection for back disability is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist. The AOJ will need to obtain additional evidence and provide a new or addendum medical opinion.