Ankle Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle strain and remanded the issues of service connection for right hand disability, right second finger disability, and left hand and finger disability. The Veteran's claim is being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for vitiligo and bilateral ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not incurred during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle disorder, characterized as a right ankle bimalleolar fracture. The issues of entitlement to a temporary total disability rating for right ankle surgery and TDIU are remanded due to the change in the Veteran's disability picture.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right ankle disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, and bilateral pes planus due to inadequate opinions provided by VA examiners. The examiners were instructed to consider the Veteran's lay statements and complaints but failed to do so.

The Veteran's right and left knee disorders, as well as his left ankle disorder, have been granted increased ratings. The right knee has been rated at 20% since July 18, 2008, for moderate lateral instability with pain during noncompensable motion loss. The left knee has also been rated at 20%, and the left ankle has been rated at 10%. These decisions are effective as of July 18, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left ankle disability, finding that there is no evidence to support an in-service injury and that any current condition is not related to service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates as these issues are not properly before the Board due to a lack of disagreement with the effective dates in the August 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher initial rating for his right ankle disability is remanded. The issue of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also raised, but the Board does not have jurisdiction to determine if TDIU is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions regarding the appellant's character of discharge, service connection claims, and mental health status. The VA will seek additional records and conduct examinations to determine these issues.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current right ear hearing loss, and the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle, knee, and foot disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to August 1, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for a waiver of S-DVI premiums was denied because his total disability did not begin after the date of his application for insurance or while the insurance was in force under premium-paying conditions, and he does not have a service-connected condition that would allow him to qualify for an exception.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and a right ankle disability, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right ankle disability and lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence to support these claims. The claim for vasovagal syncope is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for reopening his previous denial on lumbar spine disability was not successful as new and material evidence was not submitted within one year of the September 2017 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right ankle strain, left ankle arthritis, and service-connected plantar fasciitis with pes planus and degenerative arthritis of the bilateral feet. The case will be returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, low back disability, and left ankle disability are remanded.