Ankle Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle tendonitis, left ankle strain, and left knee strain with effective dates of October 15, 2018. The initial ratings assigned are 10% for each condition.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprains are each assigned a 10 percent rating from March 2, 2018.,The Veteran's service-connected residuals of the right foot fracture are also assigned a 10 percent rating from June 12, 1996.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and a left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The claim for right ankle disability was dismissed due to untimely filing.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for all service connection claims, including bilateral limb cellulitis, residuals from a heat stroke, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), skin disability, right ankle disability, left leg and joint condition, right hip pain, right leg and joint condition, left hip limitation of extension, and linear scar on lateral aspect of left ankle.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, and will consider each issue individually.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,The remaining issues, including cervical spine disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right hand disability, left hand disability, stomach condition (dyspepsia), and migraine headaches are all remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, vertigo, low back disability, left ankle and right ankle disabilities, left arm and right arm disabilities, left elbow and right elbow disabilities, left foot and right foot disabilities, left hand little finger, right hand little finger, left hand index finger, right hand index finger, left hand long finger, right hand long finger, left hand ring finger, right hand ring finger, left hand thumb, right hand thumb, left knee, right knee, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity cold exposure, right upper extremity cold exposure, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability have also been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ankle and knee disabilities, low back disability, anxiety/depression, insomnia, sleep apnea, and headaches, did not begin during or are otherwise related to service. As such, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis and right ankle Achilles tendonitis have been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's left ankle strain is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, bilateral hip disabilities (left and right), and hypertension as secondary to the service-connected right ankle disability.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset during active duty.

The Veteran's residuals of left ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis are rated at 20 percent, but no higher, due to marked limitation of motion.

The Board denied service connection for various shoulder, knee, ankle, and plantar fasciitis disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing current diagnoses or functional impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right ankle status post ankle sprain is granted, and she is assigned an initial disability rating of 10 percent. Her scar on the left index finger is also granted as painful, warranting a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The Board has found that there is a need for new VA examinations to evaluate the Veteran's right ankle and low back conditions due to inadequate previous evaluations. The claims are being remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle tendonitis is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied. The Veteran's tinnitus, however, has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and left wrist disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the July 2021 decision. The VA will need to schedule examinations to provide updated medical opinions on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims for various conditions, including vertigo, left and right shoulder disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral plantar fasciitis.