Ankle Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA opinions and a need for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right hand degenerative arthritis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, left ankle disabilities, and tinnitus have all been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and seizure disability due to lack of current diagnoses. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a clinician that reconciles findings with prior records and addresses whether the disabilities clearly and unmistakably preexisted service or were aggravated by service.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right ankle sprain prior to October 21, 2022 and denied any rating in excess of 10 percent as of that date.

The Board has determined that the procedural error in recognizing the Veteran's VA Form 10182 and placing his appeal on the AMA Hearing docket was a procedural error, and thus remanding the cases for further development under the Legacy system.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, left ankle, and left foot disabilities as well as asthma. All conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's active duty service.,No specific exposure basis was provided in the decision.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a chronic joint pain condition of the hands, feet, ankles, shoulders, and knees, bilaterally. The Veteran's current complaints were not shown to be related to his active duty.,There is no objective evidence indicating an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI) for joint pain.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine osteoarthritis and left ankle stress fracture, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee and remanded the issue of service connection for a left ankle disability.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been granted increased ratings of 20 percent, effective from May 16, 2016. The decision also grants an earlier effective date for the left ankle disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, while his dyslipidemia and other disabilities are denied. The case is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

Service connection is granted for a right ankle sprain prior to August 2, 2023. Service connection since that date and for bilateral shin splints are denied.,The Veteran's liver disorder and obstructive sleep apnea have not been evaluated in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obesity (claimed as weight gain/body mass index) has been reopened, but the condition is not considered a disease or disability for VA purposes and therefore cannot be granted. The claims for increased ratings for right ankle and left ankle disabilities are remanded for further development. The claim for specially adapted housing and TDIU remains pending.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on his service-connected disabilities, which include tinnitus and major depressive disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion and a need for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a left ankle disability is denied.,The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea claims are reopened, but denied on the merits.,The Veteran's eye disability (bilateral) claim is reopened, but denied on the merits.,The Veteran's lung disability (bronchitis), colon disability (ulcerative colitis), erectile dysfunction and/or vasectomy, kidney stones, and hypertension claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the remand directives and another remand is required for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left ankle condition, right foot condition, and pes cavus.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is now rated at 20 percent effective October 7, 2021. The rating for hypothyroidism remains unchanged.