Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including the neck, back, hips, knees, ankles, and foot, as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The appeal was partially successful, as the right ankle disability claim was reopened and remanded for further consideration. The left and right leg disability claims were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a muscle disability, left groin disability, right ankle disability, and respiratory disability to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral strain, left knee pain, right knee pain, right ankle pain, left ankle pain, and headaches as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability was remanded due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an extension of a temporary total rating, a higher rating for right ankle disability, and ratings for painful and non-painful right ankle scars.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease, left and right lumbar radiculopathy, and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any found right ankle disability, considering in-service strain injury and preexisting pes planus.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), and unspecified anxiety disorder; gouty ankle and knees; and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension as secondary to sleep apnea, and separate ratings for right knee meniscal tear and right ankle instability were granted. Other claims were denied.

The Board remands the claims for higher ratings and related matters due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for left ankle status post fracture with degenerative arthritis and a 30 percent rating for bilateral foot pes planus with hallux rigidus status post foot strain, while denying an increased rating for right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and earlier effective dates for service connection, as well as service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left elbow, right ankle, and deviated septum disabilities to schedule VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical disorder, vertigo, hypertension, and right ankle disorder to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for various conditions and DEA benefits, as no formal or informal claim was filed prior to January 18, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a TBI, bilateral shin splints, right ankle disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right hand neuropathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and knee disabilities due to an inadequate medical examination.

The Veteran is granted SMC at the L rate based on the need for regular aid and attendance since November 1, 2017, but denied prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, from October 1, 2017.

The Board granted service connection for left knee DJD, left ankle DJD, left upper extremity, radical; ulnar radicular pain parasthesia, and cervicothoracic spine pain based on the Veteran's competent lay statements and a private medical expert opinion.