Ankle Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need to obtain additional records, including National Guard and Reserve personnel records, SSA records, and private medical records from Strong Memorial Hospital and Cook County Hospital.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis due to the lack of evidence linking the condition to active duty service.,The Board has remanded the claims for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine at L4-L5 and L5-S1 and left ankle chondromalacia, as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right hip disability as secondary to his service-connected bilateral plantar calluses and for a right ankle disability. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of either condition, and that any pain or discomfort did not constitute a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and alcohol use disorder), obstructive sleep apnea, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder has been granted. The claims for service connection for a left elbow disorder, back disorder, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability are being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations to determine the functional impact of flare-ups on his right ankle, left knee, right knee, and thoracolumbar spine disorders.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, headaches, jaw disorder, dental disorder, and TBI have all been denied. The evidence does not support the presence of current disabilities or link them to service.,There is no credible evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

Your appeal for a higher rating for your left ankle condition has been dismissed because the Veteran died in December 2020.

Your appeals for service connection of right foot, left foot, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims at this time.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle disability, finding that it was aggravated by his time on active duty.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been dismissed due to voluntary withdrawal of claims.,The Veteran was awarded TDIU based on his bipolar disorder, effective February 19, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial ratings have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.,Service connection has been granted for residuals of left arm burn scar.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his sleep apnea, as well as whether obesity caused or aggravated by these disabilities is a substantial factor in causing sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a fracture of the left fifth metacarpal was denied as his disability is already at its highest possible rating.,Service connection claims for left and right ankle and/or foot disabilities were also denied due to lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected Reiter’s syndrome and its residuals, including chronic joint symptoms and non-orthopedic conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in VA examinations, and the Veteran will be scheduled for a new VA examination to assess his left ankle disability.

The Veteran's migraines are granted a 30% rating as of April 13, 2016. The right elbow, left knee, right ankle, left wrist, and right wrist conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a TBI is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,A rating of 20 percent for the right ankle disability prior to November 6, 2017 is granted. From November 6, 2017, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various foot and ankle disorders due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The issues are not about service connection via a presumption, but rather on the merits.