Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's right and left tibia disabilities, as well as their associated knee and ankle instability issues, have been granted increased ratings. The right and left knee instability issues received initial 10 percent ratings prior to April 22, 2022, and a 20 percent rating from that date onwards. Right and left ankle instability issues also received initial 10 percent ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.,Service connection for a back disability is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to deficiencies in previous medical opinions and need for additional development of the record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board granted a TDIU based on his physical and cognitive limitations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right lower extremity, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to insufficient examination findings and opinions. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again to determine if they are related to his service-connected right thigh gunshot wound.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise regarding the question of whether the Veteran's current disabilities are etiologically related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected thoracic strain, right knee tricompartmental chondrocalcinosis, and right ankle sprain are being remanded due to the possibility of worsening symptoms. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for migraine headaches, left wrist disability, and left ankle disability have been denied. The Veteran is currently receiving the maximum schedular rating for his headache disability.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, including a history of surgery, is rated at 20 percent since July 24, 2018.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. High cholesterol and psychiatric disorders are denied. The remaining claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically failure to obtain medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disability as there is no current evidence showing a left ankle disability during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's service records show multiple complaints and treatment related to his hands, feet, ankles, upper extremities, lower extremities, and back during service. The Veteran contends that these conditions had their onset or are otherwise related to service. However, the VA examinations have not provided a clear opinion on whether any of these conditions were present in service or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left ankle, left shoulder, and right knee conditions due to incomplete compliance with prior directives. The VA clinician must provide a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's right eye disability is granted as the result of exposure to environmental hazards during his service in the Gulf War. The left ankle scar and left ear hearing loss are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities, as well as his right and left hip disabilities, did not have onset in service or within one year of discharge. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Veteran's left ankle fracture residuals are remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability. Additionally, service connection for residuals of a right rib fracture is also remanded due to lack of Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his service-connected left knee, right knee, and left ankle disabilities, as well as the issue of entitlement to TDIU, have been dismissed due to a withdrawal of appeal in an August 2022 written statement.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service sprains and that there is no chronic disease present.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for her claimed ankle and foot disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between her current conditions and her military service.