Ankle Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various knee and ankle disabilities, as well as a left lower extremity sciatic nerve disability, require further examination to determine their etiology. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent right ankle sprains has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right ankle surgical scar has also been denied due to the scar measuring less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded as there was an error in failing to consider updated evidence showing suicidal ideation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with effective dates ranging from December 4, 2018 to March 25, 2019. The right ankle sprain received a 20% rating, bilateral knee disabilities (right and left) each received a 20% rating, and hypertension was rated at 20%. Service connection for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder was granted effective from November 20, 2018.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The Board granted service connection for left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee condition is rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of severe painful motion or weakness.,The Veteran's right ankle condition is rated at 20 percent, which also does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of severe painful motion or weakness.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral knee disabilities. These issues are being remanded to allow for further review.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for lower back disability, headache disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability. The Veteran's request to withdraw her appeal regarding sleep apnea was granted.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 20 percent evaluation for residuals of right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain as the reduction was improper due to insufficient evidence showing actual improvement under ordinary conditions of life.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are not properly adjudicated due to procedural errors, and thus remands are necessary for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, finding that there is no direct evidence linking his current OSA to his military service. The Board also found that obesity, which he claims as a result of his service-connected left knee and ankle disabilities, did not cause or aggravate his OSA.

The Veteran's hearing loss of the right ear is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted, with consideration given to continuity of symptomatology since service.,Gout of bilateral ankles and feet is granted as service-connected, with consideration given to continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The claims for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, left ankle condition, and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an eye disability, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability due to service.,Service connection for the right ankle disability has been remanded as additional information or evidence may be needed.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeals of all listed conditions, and as a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral ankle disability and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error regarding private treatment records for his service-connected mental health disorder and right ankle disability.

The Veteran's bulging intervertebral disc, gout, and right ankle osteoarthritis (synovitis ankle right) were all found to have begun during service.,Service connection was granted for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset in active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for dermatitis was dismissed. His claim for service connection for OSA was dismissed as the June 2023 decision effectively granted his appeal in full. The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, but granted a 10 percent rating for sinusitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him permanently bedridden or unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. He is not substantially confined to his house due to service-connected disabilities, nor does he have a single service-connected disability ratable at 100 percent along with other unrelated disabilities that combine to at least 60 percent.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle conditions need further examination and medical opinion to determine if they are related to his active-duty service.