Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of November 3, 2017 for the grant of service connection for his left ankle disability is granted. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his left ankle disability (limitation of motion) and separate initial 20 percent rating for left ankle instability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, right shoulder disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability (to include major depressive disorder and borderline personality disorder) is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for syncope is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for an examination without considering the ameliorative effects of medication on the Veteran's gout.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition, as secondary to his service-connected left ankle condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the back and multiple hip, knee, ankle, and plantar fasciitis conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU effective December 12, 2018.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection for compensation purposes.,Service connection is denied for a sleep disability due to insufficient evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted for some claims, but not all. The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is granted, while the claims for rash (entire body), left ankle disability, migraine headaches, back disability, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) are remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining medical opinions.

The Veteran's right ankle and left knee disabilities are remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on housebound status is denied because he does not have a single service-connected disability rated as total (100%) with an additional service-connected disability or disabilities independently ratable at 60%. The Veteran's TDIU was based on multiple service-connected disabilities, not a single disability.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 13, 2019 for the service connection of bilateral ankle conditions (right and left ankles) with shin splints and post ankle arthroscopy.

The Veteran's claims for MDD, migraines, residuals of a head injury, and scar were granted with effective dates starting from October 11, 2011. The Board denied earlier effective dates as there was no indication of an intent to file such claims prior to the filing date.,For migraines, residuals of a head injury, and scar, the Veteran's claims were filed on October 11, 2011, which is when service connection was granted. The Board found that earlier effective dates could not be assigned as there was no indication of an intent to file such claims prior to this date.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including a back disability, left ankle disabilities, right ankle disabilities, chronic headaches, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and IBS are all granted. A 70 percent rating is assigned for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral foot fungus. Service connection is also granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left ankle enthesopathy, right ankle enthesopathy with LCL sprain, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and osteoarthritis of the right knee.,The Board has remanded service connection for a left hip condition, right hip condition, and right shoulder rotator cuff condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence in the August 2020 VA examination reports. The Veteran's complaints of pain have been considered, but further medical opinions are needed to determine if her current conditions are related to her service-connected disabilities or service.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of August 21, 2015 for the Veteran's service-connected right and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, pancreatic cancer, and chronic pain in multiple body parts. The appeals are being remanded to consider additional evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a right shoulder disability and left ankle disability due to insufficient medical opinions provided at the time of the August 2021 rating decision. The Veteran's specific medical history, including his reported in-service and post-service symptoms, needs to be considered.

The Veteran's neck disability is rated 20 percent from May 1, 2013, and 30 percent thereafter. The rating for back disability has not been met. The right ankle disability was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to October 30, 2020, and 20 percent thereafter. The right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated 20 percent.,The Veteran's left hip disability and diabetes mellitus are remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and duty-to-assist errors. The appellant's character of discharge from service is being reconsidered, as are his PTSD claims.

The Veteran's right and left ankle sprain disabilities have been granted increased ratings of 20 percent each, effective as of the date of this decision.