Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for left and right knees, as well as the right ankle due to a failure to obtain the Veteran's exact training dates and VA examinations.

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 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 Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and mental disorder due to premature filing of the Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for hypertension, left ankle degenerative arthritis, and right ankle degenerative arthritis were denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted.

The Veteran's left ankle strain is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5271.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left foot is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus, cervical spine condition, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, retropatellar pain syndrome of the right knee, left knee condition, left shin condition, and ankle conditions are all granted as service connected.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence showing their onset during active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder condition, lower back condition, bilateral ankle condition, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The evidence did not meet the minimum requirements to trigger VA's duty to assist in these cases.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the appropriate ratings for various disabilities, including right and left foot hallux valgus, cervical spine disability, knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, heart disease, and bilateral insertional tendonitis. The claims are being remanded to obtain necessary examinations and evaluations.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral petrous apex cephaloceles, TBI, migraine headaches, and a bilateral eye condition. The claim for a bilateral ankle condition is remanded due to the lack of an adequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot pes planus, plantar fasciitis, degenerative arthritis, and calcaneal spur (left foot disability), left knee strain and patellofemoral pain syndrome (left knee disability), and right ankle degenerative joint disease (right ankle disability) on a direct basis.

The Veteran's left wrist disability is granted as service connected. The left ankle disability is denied as not related to service. The cervical spine disability is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for heel spurs is remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right lower leg pain and a right ankle strain are denied as there is no new and relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, right foot disability, and left foot disability due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these disabilities are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle has been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to incomplete STRs and inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for PFB, left shoulder acromioclavicular osteoarthritis, and right ankle sprain are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions considering all evidence of record.

The Veteran's left and right ankle disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the highest rating of 30 percent for his right ankle disability since January 1, 2014. The claims for other conditions were denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if the Veteran's conditions of left knee DJD (limitation of extension) and limitation of flexion, as well as left ankle strain with degenerative joint disease, were present prior to the effective dates assigned in the July 2021 decision.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for left lower extremity (LLE) of the posterior tibial nerve, to include left foot strain, is remanded due to inadequate examination and duty to assist error.