Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right ankle disability due to inadequate medical opinions and a failure to obtain all relevant private records.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The decision is based on direct evidence of injury during service and subsequent development of arthritis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle strain and left shoulder strain due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA will need to provide adequate examinations and opinions to determine if these conditions are related to her active duty.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in the November 2021 rating decision and has remanded the case for further development.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an initial compensable rating for ED. The issues of service connection for right hip disability, bilateral foot disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral tibial fracture, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability have been reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, including obtaining an examination for the right foot and providing medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's left knee and bilateral ankle disabilities are granted as service-connected.,Entitlement to a 30 percent rating for tensovascular headaches is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and its relation to service-connected conditions. The Appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the disability is already rated at its maximum.,Service connection for heart disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, lower back disability, gallbladder disability, left knee disability, left hip disability, and lower left leg disability are remanded due to errors in VA's pre-decisional duty to assist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left foot pain, left hip strain, left wrist pain, right ankle pain, right foot pain, right hip strain, right wrist pain, and vitamin D deficiency have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events that would support these claims.

The Veteran's initial rating for a back disability is granted at 20 percent, and service connection is granted for right ankle and cervical spine disabilities. The claim for TDIU prior to January 4, 2013, is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle malunion of the tarsal bone, a left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and bilateral foot pes planus, hammer toes, and metatarsalgia. The evidence supports these findings as they are related to his service-connected right ankle disorder.

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 been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

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 been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

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 been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the initial decision.

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 been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

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 been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

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 been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

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 been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities. However, SMC by reason of being housebound is denied as he does not meet the criteria.