Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of left ankle strain is granted, as the evidence supports her claim that she sustained a left ankle strain during basic training in 2007 and has experienced ongoing symptoms since then.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right foot/pes planus disability, as well as his right hallux valgus, right ankle sprain and right foot sprain disabilities. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions were aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, bilateral leg condition, and bilateral ankle condition due to new evidence submitted. However, the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability was not reopened as there was no new and material evidence provided.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the August 2021 Board remand and has ordered further action to be taken on the appeals for higher ratings for service-connected ankle, knee, and hip disabilities. The AOJ is required to review the expanded record, including private examinations submitted by the Veteran's representative in December 2020, and any additional audiograms obtained.

The Board has vacated its previous decisions on several service connection claims and remanded them for further review.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for thoracic back disability and right ankle disability have been remanded due to new evidence received since the April 2019 rating decision.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of his right shoulder, left wrist, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service connection claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been granted. The right ankle disability issue is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's current diagnosed left ankle condition is related to an in-service ankle injury, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that he does not have a current diagnosis of this condition. The Board also remanded the issues regarding his bilateral ankle disabilities due to insufficient examination findings.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional VA medical records not having been considered in the previous decision. The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a broken right ankle/foot will be reconsidered by the AOJ.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there is no evidence to support or suggest that any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or contributed to his death in any way.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the December 1984 decision denying service connection for bilateral ankle disability. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at June 16, 1984, which is one day after the Veteran's separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection was remanded due to incomplete or unclear evidence, particularly regarding the relationship between his service-connected conditions and any new claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examinations and the need to elicit information regarding flare-ups of the Veteran's right ankle and left knee conditions.

The Veteran's left ankle condition is being remanded for further clarification and evaluation due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has decided the right ankle disability case and remanded for further development regarding the back disorder. The Veteran's appeal is pending.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ratings for various conditions and claims of secondary service connection. The decision also notes that there are outstanding VA treatment records which need to be obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoid disability and right ankle disability were evaluated, with the hemorrhoid rating remaining at 0% from June 5, 2013 to November 30, 2020. The right ankle disability received a 10% initial rating from June 5, 2013 to November 30, 2020 and was denied for higher ratings thereafter.