Ankle Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including left ear hearing loss, cardiac disability, cervical spine disability, hip disabilities, knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, and shoulder and foot disabilities. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is currently rated as noncompensable, but the Board has granted a 20 percent rating for this condition.,The Veteran's right knee condition remains in dispute and requires further examination to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since May 22, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ankle, right foot, and dermatitis/folliculitis disabilities due to a lack of recent private treatment records and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and right ankle strain were granted service connection.,A new issue of entitlement to service connection for a right quadriceps disorder was remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for right ankle fracture residuals with fusion and osteoarthritis has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has found that further action is needed to address the competency of a VA examiner who conducted examinations in March 2020. The Veteran's request for this information was not addressed, and thus the case is being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective June 10, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for vasomotor rhinitis with epistaxis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), left ankle osteoarthritis, and right ankle strain have been granted. The Board found that these conditions are related to service due to exposure in the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of left ankle burn, left knee disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and hearing impairment are all granted. The claim for residuals of a spider bite is remanded.

The Board dismissed all appeals as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal in February 2022.

The Veteran's left arm radiculopathy is found to be secondary to her service-connected cervical spine disorder.,Other claims are remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board denied the petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle disorder because new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim and did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the June 2016 VA examination report. The Veteran needs new VA examinations and etiology opinions considering the MRI results submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several service connection claims, including deviated septum, ankle strains, plantar fasciitis, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and shin splints. The Board dismissed these claims as a result.

The Veteran's back disability is granted service connection. The neck, right hip, left ankle, heart, kidney, head trauma, and seizures disabilities are denied as not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, finding no link between the Veteran's right ankle sprain and his current left knee condition. The Board also found no evidence of a knee disability during service or within one year after service.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities are currently rated at the maximum schedular ratings (20% for each ankle prior to July 27, 2021, and 40% from that date). The appeal is remanded as there is no evidence of ankylosis or functional fixation of the ankles.

The Veteran's residuals of a left ankle sprain were granted a rating of 20 percent effective October 11, 2017. The Board found the functional impairment caused by his recurrent left ankle instability more nearly approximated that contemplated by a marked limitation of ankle motion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid disability was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, but the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent.,Service connection for gout is denied as there is no evidence it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for a back disability is denied due to lack of evidence that it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for a prostate disability is denied as there is no evidence it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for a kidney disability is denied as there is no evidence it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for a left ankle disability is denied due to lack of evidence that it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for a right knee disability is denied due to lack of evidence that it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for headaches and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as they are caused by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.,Effective dates prior to July 9, 2015, for bilateral hearing loss and left knee osteoarthritis are denied.