Ankle Board decisions

The appeals for reductions in ratings for right knee instability and left knee instability are dismissed.,Entitlement to an initial rating of 10% for limitation of extension of the left knee is granted.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10% for the right ankle disability is denied.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10% for the surgical scar of the right knee is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding his right and left ankle strains, effective as of August 31, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation for the period from May 5, 2013 to April 22, 2017. The Board granted TDIU based on this evidence.

The Veteran's claims for PFB and a right ankle sprain have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's PTSD, left ankle disability (based on limitation of motion and pain), and migraines are all service-connected. However, the Veteran does not receive a higher initial rating for his PTSD or left ankle disability based on limitation of motion and pain. A separate 10% rating is granted for left ankle instability. The Veteran's initial rating for migraines remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right ankle sprain and left hand strain before the Board, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined issues, including service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating for laceration scar, left forearm. The TDIU claim is also affected by these unresolved issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was received regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for left thumb fracture residuals, a left shoulder disability, and a left foot disability. As such, these claims are being remanded to allow for further review.,Service connection is granted for left ankle osteoarthritis and lumbar disc disease with right radiculopathy (back disability). Service connection is denied for service connection for left thumb fracture residuals, a left shoulder disability, and a left foot disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and a left ankle disability. The effective dates are July 19, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no new and relevant evidence to support the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a functionally impairing left hand disability and a functionally impairing left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service and have persisted since.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for reopening service connection claims for various knee and ankle disabilities due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claims of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability and a right hip disability. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending appeals and confirmed the withdrawal at the May 2024 Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple neurological and peripheral neuropathy disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, as well as a left wrist disability, have been denied. The appeal for residuals of right wrist fracture has also been denied.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of March 13, 2020 for a 10 percent rating for posttraumatic left ankle arthritis with instability and effusion. The Board found that the criteria were met to grant this effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle strain and left ankle status post-fracture are each rated at 10 percent, with no higher ratings granted.,Both conditions continue to meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating based on moderate limitation of motion.