Ankle Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle disability and left ankle disability.,Service connection for TBI is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's low back, right ankle, and right knee disabilities are granted as service-connected. The left lower extremity scar and bilateral hydroceles with right epididymal cyst do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for increased ratings and restoration of a rating. The left knee extension issue was not pursued, the right ankle disability issues were resolved, and the cold urticaria issue had its reduction restored.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims were denied. The rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder with anxious distress and alcohol use disorder was denied, as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Hypertension and allergic rhinitis were also denied as they did not meet the required diagnostic criteria.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for entitlement to service connection for right ankle strain and a skin condition due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims during the January 2025 hearing.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for left and right ankle sprain with calcaneal tendonitis are being remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board has determined that a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain, left knee strain, and right ankle tibial fracture are not warranted. The claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent left and right ankle sprains, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has denied service connection for hearing loss and remanded the issues of right ankle injury pain, laceration left side of head, cervical spine injury, and lumbar spine injury due to a lack of current disability evidence and duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle condition existed prior to his military service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, he is denied entitlement to service connection for a left ankle condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle sprain, but the claims for migraine headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, connective tissue disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for left ankle surgical scars has been denied. The claims for service connection of GERD and OSA, secondary to PTSD, are remanded due to the need for additional medical evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sinusitis, rhinitis, prostate condition, sleep apnea, vertigo, hypertension, back condition, shoulder conditions, elbow conditions, wrist conditions, hip conditions, knee conditions, and ankle/foot conditions. The reasons provided are that the evidence does not support a nexus between these conditions and service or any other relevant factors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities were granted with a 50% rating effective from the date of receipt of his January 2024 VA Form 20-0995 Supplemental Claim Application. The appellant is eligible to direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the May 2024 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to procedural errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle sprain with instability and ED as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service cellulitis of the left ankle and his service-connected PTSD, respectively.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection. The claims for left ankle disability and right hip condition are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Board found no factual basis to grant earlier effective dates.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU and DEA eligibility effective September 15, 2022.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's eligibility for enrollment in the PCAFC is remanded due to inadequate reasoning and failure to discuss relevant evidence, including VA examination reports and medical opinions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's chronic bronchitis remains at a 30 percent rating.