Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected left ankle and left foot disabilities were denied. The left ankle disability was found to not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating, while the left foot disability prior to December 31, 2020, did not warrant a higher than 10 percent rating, but from that date onward, it did not meet the criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating.

Service connection for left ankle, right ankle, right knee, and left knee conditions is denied.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and a back disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete records. The Veteran is entitled to additional etiology opinions on his acquired psychiatric, respiratory, cardiac, vestibular, hearing loss/tinnitus, and orthopedic disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities is remanded due to the need for a new examination. The Veteran also has bilateral shin splints that are currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, coronary artery disease, gout, and right ankle degenerative joint disease and fracture, prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational background and work experience. The Board granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound status as he is able to perform most daily activities independently, including walking short distances without assistance.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports readjudicating the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle conditions. The evidence includes updated VA treatment records showing bilateral ankle pain, as well as lay statements from the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, right knee, and ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions originated during or were otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left ankle arthritis, and hypertension. The claims of entitlement to service connection for migraines and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hip strain, as it may be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's back disability is granted service connection, but her left ankle and hip disabilities are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The left ankle disability claim is being remanded for an adequate VA opinion, and the obstructive sleep apnea claim is being remanded for opinions on causation and aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle gout, finding that the Veteran's symptoms manifested within one year of his discharge and have persisted since.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The Board will seek new opinions to determine if the conditions are related to service.

Service connection for hypercholesterolemia, microscopic hematuria, bilateral hearing loss, tinea versicolor, psoriatic arthritis of the knees, shoulders, and ankles, a bilateral shoulder disability (including psoriatic arthritis and bilateral lateral collateral ligament sprain), and a bilateral ankle disability (including psoriatic arthritis and osteoarthritis) is denied.,The Veteran's hypercholesterolemia and microscopic hematuria are not service-connected as they were preexisting conditions.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for left wrist, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities has been received. However, further development is needed as there are pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the current examination reports.

The Board has restored the 20 percent evaluations for ankylosis of the left and right ankle tarsal joints, effective December 1, 2020, finding that the evidence did not show material improvement warranting a reduction.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of April 1, 2021.

The Board has identified errors in the VA examinations and is remanding the case for further examination to ensure that only the correct Veteran's service treatment records are considered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety condition, asthma (shortness of breath), obstructive sleep apnea, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and left hip condition have all been denied. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee condition and right knee condition.