Ankle Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis but dismissed the claim for service connection of a left ankle condition.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, left wrist disorder, left hand disorder, right shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, and left upper extremity radiculopathy disorder due to new and relevant evidence submitted since the March 2019 rating decision.,The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disorder but has not determined whether there is a current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. Additional development is needed to consider the lay statements and other evidence submitted in connection with his Supplemental Claim and Higher-Level Review Request.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier initial effective dates and ratings related to posttraumatic stress disorder, right ear hearing loss, arthritis, and right ankle disorder due to a claims processing defect where the Veteran did not clearly identify which decision or issues he wished to appeal.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 11, 2019 for a 10% disability rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability. The effective date is not earlier than April 30, 2020 for the award of a 40% disability rating for urethral stricture.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims at this time.

Your service connection claims for back, left ankle, left foot, left knee, and left shoulder conditions have already been granted in full. The appeals are dismissed as there are no longer pending adverse determinations.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for anxiety disorder NOS, left knee strain with osteoarthritis, and left ankle strain with degenerative arthritis. The Board finds that an updated VA examination is necessary to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.,The Veteran also seeks increased ratings for his service-connected anxiety disorder NOS, left knee strain with osteoarthritis, and left ankle strain with degenerative arthritis. The Board finds that a new VA examination is necessary to determine the current level of severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to his ability to feed himself, prepare meals, manage finances, attend to personal needs such as shaving and toileting, and walk without assistance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are inextricably intertwined with his claims for remand. The claims have been REMANDED to allow for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted with effective dates of May 1, 1997.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's right and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprains are rated at 20 percent each, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and insufficient evidence, including VA treatment records indicating arthritic changes in the Veteran's left foot.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.,New and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claims for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability is granted with an effective date of March 17, 1982. The decision was based on newly added service department records that were relevant to the Veteran's claim and formed part of the basis for the award.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle and right shoulder disabilities were denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's left ankle condition and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as service connected. The decision on the secondary OSA claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision regarding service connection for various orthopedic conditions and hypothyroidism, necessitating a remand to obtain further medical opinions and diagnostic testing.

The Veteran's low back condition and right ankle condition were denied service connection. The left ankle, knee, hip, and psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) claims are remanded for further development.,Service connection is being remanded for the Veteran's left ankle, right knee, right hip, and psychiatric disorders (including PTSD).