Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder tendonitis, lumbosacral strain, right ankle strain, and right knee strain based on evidence showing these conditions were incurred in-service.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the establishment of service connection for various conditions associated with the right knee disability and a right ankle disability was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his Notice of Disagreement.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right ankle conditions, lumbosacral strain with muscle spasms, and a right-frontal cortical brain-infarction (claimed as traumatic brain-injury) to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right ankle conditions to obtain a more thorough medical opinion.

The Board restored the 10 percent rating for right hip strain, finding that the reduction was improper. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating or additional compensation for his right hip strain and ankle disabilities.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a right ankle disability and cannabis use disorder, moderate and alcohol use disorder, mild (claimed and previously rated as insomnia).

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain and related radiculopathy, as well as a higher rating for right ankle sprain, to obtain additional evidence and examinations that account for the Veteran's flare-ups and medication use.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable evaluation of hypothyroidism and service connection for left and right ankle pain due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including left ankle, right ankle, left knee, right knee, low back, neck pain, PTSD, and left shoulder conditions, as the Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, hypertension, a dental and oral disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease, headaches, a lumbar spine disorder, a cervical spine disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right wrist disorder, and left wrist disorder.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the right ankle sprain and 10 percent for two painful scars from May 15, 2013.

The Veteran's effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits was granted from March 6, 2018.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and increased the rating for a left ankle disability to 20 percent, while denying service connection for scarring of the face and neck, papules of the face and neck, traumatic brain injury, obesity, and migraine headaches.

The Board denied increased ratings for adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotions and insomnia, left ankle strain, and right ankle strain.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, left elbow pain, left hip pain, left knee pain, right ankle pain, and right shoulder pain on a direct basis.

The Board granted service connection for right ankle tendonitis, a right knee condition (strain and osteoarthritis), and impingement syndrome of the left shoulder based on new and relevant evidence that was submitted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an evaluation greater than 10 percent for tinnitus, and remanded the claims for a left ankle condition and left foot condition.

The Board denied service connection for a headache condition and remanded claims for other conditions including right hand, left hand, lower back, right ankle, right foot, left foot, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability at a level qualifying as a VA compensation disability. The claims for service connection for cervical spine, left shoulder, low back, left hip, right and left knee, and right and left ankle disabilities were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a left ankle disability due to an inadequate VA examination.