Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and duty-to-assist errors.,Specifically, the VA examiners did not provide sufficient rationale for their conclusions regarding the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions.

The claim for an initial increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied.,The claim for an initial increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for hearing loss is denied.,The claim for an initial increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The claim for an initial compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.,The claim for service connection for TBI is denied.,The claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, to include flat foot pain, is denied.,The claim for service connection for a right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain is granted.,The claim for service connection for xerosis cutis is granted.

The Board has dismissed all pending appeals due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims prior to a final decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities alone rendered him unemployable, despite meeting the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of March 2, 2016 for the award of a 40 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain.,The Veteran's initial claim for increased left ankle collateral ligament sprain was denied as his disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle conditions as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus, finding that there was no medical nexus between the claimed ankle conditions and his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. The Board found that a higher rating is warranted for bilateral hearing loss, but denied earlier effective dates for service connection of tinnitus and BHL.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings for hernia surgery scars, left ankle surgery scar, right lower extremity restless leg syndrome, and left lower extremity restless leg syndrome were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's scars do not meet criteria for a compensable rating and his restless leg syndrome does not meet criteria for a greater than 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, right ankle strain, and lumbosacral strain on a direct basis. The decision is based on credible lay evidence rather than complete medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches and left knee degenerative arthritis need further development due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral acquired pes cavus, right ankle tendonitis, and left ankle tendonitis. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible history of parachute jumping in service which led to foot and ankle issues.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors and incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and remanded the issue of service connection for foot numbness (neuropathy). The Veteran's current disabilities are not established, and further examination is needed to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, right hip, left knee, right knee, and left ankle disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip strain, right hip strain, left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, left foot plantar fasciitis, and right foot plantar fasciitis. The low back lumbosacral strain was also granted service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because a spurious rating decision was issued in March 2021, which is prohibited by law.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, insomnia, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, migraine disability, and right finger disability were denied. The claim for loss of balance was remanded.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions listed above.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of October 1, 2007 for the Veteran's service connection claims for left knee meniscal tear residuals, left Achilles' tendon rupture, and left ankle scar.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right ankle disability, finding that his symptoms have worsened and he now experiences notable reduction in range of motion.