Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board remands the service connection claims for left foot, right foot, and right ankle conditions due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for not timely submitting a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) within one year from the date of the mailing of an adverse decision.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability meeting the regulatory threshold for hearing loss benefits at any point during the appeal period.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders due to a lack of adequate evidence and medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for a right ankle disability, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right ankle, left ankle, right knee, left knee, and low back conditions to obtain additional medical opinions due to an inadequate September 2023 VA examination.

The Board granted an effective date of May 21, 2008, for the grant of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to continuous pursuit of increased rating claims and the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back disability, left knee strain, bilateral ankle strain, right lower extremity sciatica, and PTSD based on military sexual trauma.

The Veteran has withdrawn the entire appeal, and all claims have been dismissed.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and records.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for headaches, asthma rating reduction, and low back condition. The claims for bilateral flat foot and fallen arches, right ankle, left ankle, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. However, the 70 percent rating for PTSD was restored.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for entitlement to earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for a right ankle disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, and lumbosacral disability.

The proposed severance of service connection for various conditions was dismissed as the Veteran's appeal was invalid due to the nature of the May 2024 rating decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all claims, including those for higher ratings and service connection.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including anxiety, depression, back pain, erectile dysfunction, and others, as there was no evidence of current diagnoses or symptoms reasonably associated with the disorders claimed.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and denied service connection for various other conditions, including allergies/rhinitis, right hip joint pain inflammation - range of motion condition, left lower extremity radiates / chronic foot peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity radiates / chronic foot peripheral neuropathy, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, migraine / tension headaches, traumatic brain injury (TBI), sinusitis, sleep apnea, and right foot inversion. The Board remanded several claims for further development.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) from November 5, 2008, to October 18, 2011, from January 1, 2012, to October 23, 2012, from February 1, 2013, to February 23, 2014, and from April 1, 2015, to March 10, 2024.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone is found to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the statutory housebound criteria.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee, right ankle, and left ankle degenerative arthritis to obtain further medical opinions regarding whether these conditions pre-existed service and, if not, whether they are related to service or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and multiple musculoskeletal disorders.