Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and increased initial ratings of 10 percent and 20 percent, but no higher, for the right ankle disability and right shoulder disability, respectively.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, rectal bleeding, irritable bowel syndrome, flat foot, left ankle disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for major depressive disorder and remanded claims for service connection of bone spurs and sciatica due to insufficient evidence.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle degenerative arthritis, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran. The GERD claim was remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a migraine disability, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was permanently aggravated beyond its natural progression due to in-service injury. Service connection for a right ankle disability was denied.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, right lower extremity varicose veins, left lower extremity varicose veins, and did not grant a rating higher than 20 percent for a right ankle fracture with osteoarthritis or any of the other remanded claims.

The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral ankle and foot edema, but remanded the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus due to missing VA treatment records.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle and left foot disabilities, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and service connection, granted a 20% rating for left hip, hamstring recurrent strain, limitation of flexion, and remanded the claim for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to May 19, 2021, for the Veteran's left ankle disability based on the evidence showing no more than moderate limitation of motion.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is granted a separate initial noncompensable rating for right ankle arthritis effective May 28, 2015. The other claims are remanded.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable initial rating for respiratory disability and an increased initial rating for right ankle strain due to insufficient evidence.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disorders.

The Board denied service connection for multiple claimed disabilities, including fractured skull, sinusitis, broken elbows, wrist injury, hand fracture, hips, knee and ankle injuries, as there was no evidence of current disability or functional impairment related to these claims.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for chronic lymphoid leukemia and various musculoskeletal conditions due to insufficient evidence and errors in the initial decision.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left elbow and lower extremity nerve conditions, as well as remanded several claims for further development.

The Veteran's service connection for rhinitis was granted, while claims for sinusitis, neck pain, right ankle pain, left ankle pain, chest pain, headaches with dizziness, right thigh and groin pain due to cramps, and right shoulder or arm pain were denied.

The Board remands the case to obtain a medical opinion addressing the severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.