Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral cataracts are granted as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The Board finds the evidence is approximately evenly balanced on whether the Veteran's sleep apnea, ankle disability, and restless leg syndrome are related to service or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's impaired balance (dizziness) and cerebrovascular disease do not have current evidence of a disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The cases for left wrist pain, lumbosacral strain, and right ankle sprain are remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during his military service and has persisted since then.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus, onychomycosis (claimed as bilateral foot disability), left ankle disability, right eye disability, uveitis, and left ear disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided the rating claims for left shoulder and ankle disabilities, denying them. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded due to an issue with the in-service stressor verification.

The Board denied service connection for periodontal disease based on the substitution of the Appellant as the claimant due to lack of compensable dental disability.,The Board remanded the claims for type 2 diabetes mellitus, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for right ankle, back, and right hip disabilities. The claim for service connection of a right knee disability is still pending.

The Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent effective February 23, 2018. The remaining issues of initial ratings for left and right ankle degenerative arthritis are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination of the appellant's left ankle disability. The examiner will determine if there is a current left ankle disability and its relationship to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right hip disability, bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, leg cramps (including shin splints), foot disabilities, and wrist disability (including carpal tunnel syndrome). The evidence does not support a relationship between these conditions and her active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the issues on appeal, including for service connection claims related to bilateral foot conditions, bilateral ankle conditions, pseudofolliculitis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for a right foot disability, including calcaneal spurring, peripheral neuropathy, and right ankle sprain with swelling, finding that the condition became manifest during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals for service connection of right knee, leg, and ankle disabilities are remanded due to procedural issues. The claims will be reconsidered after additional evidence is obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection for the other conditions are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and lack of consideration of relevant evidence.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted with a 20 percent rating, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, Depressive Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder) is granted. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for nephrolithiasis remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to March 9, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left ankle disability was denied. The case is now remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for gastric ulcer and diabetes mellitus type II.,The Board found that there was no ankylosis or instability in the Veteran's left ankle, which precluded a higher rating. The case is now remanded to provide addendum opinions addressing whether any current gastrointestinal disorder and/or diabetes mellitus were proximately caused by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease, chronic right ankle strain, and chronic right foot pain. The disabilities are found to be related to in-service injuries.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection due to concurrent receipt of VA disability compensation and active service drill pay, finding that the evidence did not support his assertion that he did not receive drill pay during fiscal years 2014 and 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability, including as secondary to his service-connected right knee and foot disabilities, is being remanded due to the need for an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been found to meet the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating prior to November 23, 2021. The appeal regarding other conditions has been dismissed.