Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each since June 17, 2020. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot, ankle, and low back disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or aggravation that resulted in current disability.,Service treatment records did not show any chronic ankle or hip conditions during active duty. The VA examiner concluded the current disabilities are more likely related to post-service use/overuse.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and left ankle neuropathy, finding that additional development is needed to address the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the issue of service connection for back disability as it was granted in a prior decision. The issues of service connection for right and left ankle disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for prostate cancer, hypertension, obesity, sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, bilateral pes planus, left foot bunion, right foot bunion, left ankle disability (claimed as achilles tendonitis), left knee disability, right knee disability, left hand disability, right hand disability, left elbow disability, right elbow disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability due to incomplete military records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for obstructive sleep apnea, right knee disability, and left ankle disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings than those currently assigned.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to new evidence received since the final December 2015 rating decision. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder are denied as there is no current disability at any point during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for a right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, left ankle numbness, right ankle numbness, left foot pain, and right foot pain due to a duty-to-assist error in not addressing whether these conditions are secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claims for left shoulder pain, right shoulder pain, low back condition, patellofemoral syndrome, patellofemoral osteoarthrosis, residuals of left ankle injury, and PTSD with sleep disturbances. The claims are now remanded for further consideration.

Service connection for chronic costochondritis is granted, and a 50 percent rating for tension headaches since December 9, 2019 is also granted.,A 20 percent rating for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain since November 2, 2020 is granted. The issue of a compensable rating (greater than 0 percent) for right ear hearing loss since November 2, 2020 is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ needs to obtain the Veteran's Social Security Administration records, including all disability determinations and associated medical records.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee, left knee, pelvic bone, head injury, left breast, costochondritis, jawbone, low back, neck, right ankle, right thumb, acne, scarring on the head, and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck, back, left shoulder, right shoulder, left elbow, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The decision is based on direct service connection due to evidence of in-service injury and continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left ankle surgery scar was granted, with a 10 percent rating effective from January 26, 2021.,An earlier effective date of July 24, 2017, for the 10 percent rating for the left ankle surgery scar was also granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his withdrawal. The claim for increased rating for right ankle degenerative arthritis was remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of left and right knee disabilities, as well as left and right heel disabilities due to a lack of proper medical examinations in prior decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including scarring (itchy) of the right shoulder, right buttocks, and knee; right shoulder injury; left shoulder injury; left knee condition; left ankle condition; TBI; and vision impairment. These conditions are related to his in-service motorcycle accident in April 2007.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors, inadequate medical opinions, and new theories of entitlement.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist and left ankle disorders, but the right foot disorder claim is remanded due to lack of development.