Ankle Board decisions

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the appellant's death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities, finding no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and her active duty. The claim for acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further medical opinions. The right ankle, bilateral pes planus, back disability (secondary), and left knee disability (secondary) claims will be addressed again.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral ankle, knee, and low back disabilities as well as headaches secondary to PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations.,Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has a bilateral ankle disability, whether it began during service, and its relationship to his active duty.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's disability ratings and TDIU claim due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA records may provide evidence of worsening in the Veteran's back and right ankle disabilities, which could affect these claims.

The Board denied service connection for a headache disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and chondrosarcoma of the brain as these conditions are not shown to be related to active duty service.

The Veteran's initial 10% rating for right ankle fracture, postoperative is being remanded due to insufficient examination report and the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for his left ankle disability (excluding a period from September 6, 2018 to November 30, 2018) was denied as he is already receiving the maximum schedular rating for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed for the issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee arthroscopy. The claim for PTSD was reopened, but service connection remains remanded due to insufficient evidence. Service connection for low back and right ankle conditions is also remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess his current level of impairment from service-connected disabilities, including left ankle and left lower extremity venous statis and varicose veins.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right ankle condition, which may be related to her service-connected right knee disability.

From October 5, 2012 to August 6, 2019, a rating of 20 percent for the left ankle disorder was granted.,Prior to September 14, 2017, the Veteran's TDIU claim remains on appeal as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left ankle strain was rated at 10 percent prior to December 30, 2019 and at 20 percent from that date. The Board denied higher ratings for both periods.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis (formerly patella femoral pain syndrome) is currently rated at 10 percent, and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.,Prior to October 5, 2020, the Veteran was granted a 10 percent evaluation for his achilles tendonitis, left ankle. From that date forward, the claim for an increased rating remains denied.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain with residuals of chronic ankle instability has been rated at 20 percent, but not higher. The Board found that the Veteran's condition approximated marked limitation of motion of the ankle.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, thus entitling him to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance. The issue of SMC based on being housebound is dismissed as moot due to the grant of SMC by reason of aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, BPH, sleep apnea, and several other conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses or credible evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 28, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for fibromyalgia due to inconsistencies in medical opinions and incomplete records. The Veteran contends her symptoms began shortly after arriving at Midway Island, but a November 2020 examiner found no current diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. His eligibility for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person is also remanded.