Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.

The Board granted service connection for scarring, right orchiopexy and remanded the claim of asbestos exposure residuals. Other claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of his left foot, as there was no evidence showing that the service-connected conditions resulted in functional limitation equal to that of amputation of the left foot with prosthesis.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations to properly evaluate the current severity of her disabilities.

The appeal is remanded to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including the failure to obtain relevant treatment records and provide adequate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, elbows condition, cervical condition, erectile dysfunction, kidney condition, sleep apnea, wrists condition, asthma, shoulders condition, ankles condition, eye condition (bilateral dry macular degeneration), peripheral vascular disease (heart condition), and rhinitis.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee strain, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and service connection for a right ankle disorder. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the service-connected right ankle sprain, but denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board granted service connection for right ankle disability, residuals of right ankle fracture, based on new and relevant evidence that showed the condition underwent a permanent increase in severity during service.

The Board granted service connection for migraines and remanded the claims for varicose veins, a heart condition, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a bilateral ankle condition, and a left wrist condition.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and earlier effective dates as there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current conditions and his active military service.

The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran before the Board promulgated a decision.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, back disability, and other conditions as there is no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating greater than 10 percent for left ankle fracture with dislocation with arthritis and an initial, compensable disability rating for sarcoidosis from August 20, 2024, through February 13, 2025.