Ankle Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection was denied for bilateral ankle strain condition due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,The Veteran's tinnitus is considered a direct result of his military service, with no presumption or secondary link established. The denial of service connection for the ankle strain condition is based on insufficient medical evidence showing continuity of symptoms from service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee, left ankle, right ankle, left hip, and right hip osteoarthritis due to a lack of adequate examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating of 30 percent disabling, but no higher, for service-connected chronic left ankle instability with degenerative arthritis is granted. The claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for duodenal ulcer are remanded due to outstanding private medical records.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding whether new and relevant evidence has been submitted for entitlement to service connection for various disabilities, including left ankle, right ankle, left knee, right knee, back, neck, obstructive sleep apnea, and traumatic brain injury (TBI)/concussion. The decision does not affect the Veteran's HLR.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's bilateral hypertensive retinopathy has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left ankle conditions, finding that they are related to his active military service.

The Board has denied service connection for high cholesterol, sciatica prior to July 8, 2022, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), TMJ, GERD, CFS, bilateral ankle disabilities, tinnitus, headaches prior to December 29, 2023, insomnia with unrestful sleep, and a mental health disorder. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee, left knee, right foot, left foot, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to a lack of adequate medical opinions addressing causation and aggravation.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral vision loss, hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, tinnitus, right neck lesion, shoulder disabilities, carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist pain, lumbar spine disability, colon disability with associated abdominal scar, and foot disabilities. The reasons given include lack of evidence showing the conditions were present during or within one year after service, no credible link to service, and failure to show continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current right ankle LCL sprain, cervical strain, and low back disability. The claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's right ankle strain is being remanded due to inadequate VA opinion regarding the etiology and aggravation of his disability. The AOJ must obtain an addendum opinion addressing obesity as an intermediate step, service-connected depression and anxiety causing or aggravating obesity, and whether obesity caused or aggravated the right ankle strain.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for left ankle fracture and residuals has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Board has found the reduction in disability rating for left ankle sprain with impingement syndrome from 20 percent to 10 percent was improper and has ordered a remand to consider whether the Veteran is entitled to a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and low back disorder are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for left, right ankle disabilities and right hip disability due to insufficient evidence in the May 2022 rating decision. The Veteran asserts that his current ankle and hip disabilities are secondary to service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right ankle pain. The claimant's private medical records showed diagnoses but no in-service events or injuries that could be linked to these conditions.,The Board also denied secondary service connection for a left ankle condition as it was not granted primary service connection for the right ankle pain.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and psychiatric disorders, cervical spine disorder, back disorder, elbow disorders, wrist disorders, shoulder disorders, hip disorders, ankle disorders, and foot disorders. The decision was based on the lack of evidence showing a direct link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a right rib fracture and dermatophytosis (claimed as eczema) have been granted. Claims for hyperlipidemia, elevated liver enzymes, posttraumatic stress disorder, alopecia totalis, iliotibial band syndrome of the left knee, cervical spine disability, voiding dysfunction, benign neoplasm of the skin, right ankle disability, right elbow disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability have been denied. The Veteran's claims for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity secondary to service-connected spinal stenosis are remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for a rating in excess of 10 percent for eczema with condyloma acuminatum, penile shaft; entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disability; and entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for various conditions and revisions to evaluations. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.