Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board remands the veteran's claims for further development, including scheduling examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The claims for an earlier effective date of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, service connection for tinnitus, and service connection for left ankle disability were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew them prior to the Board's decision.

The Board remands the matter for additional development, including a VA medical opinion to assess the functional impairment of the Veteran's PTSD and left ankle disability on his ability to work.

The Board denied service connection for all seven conditions as there was no evidence that any of the claimed disabilities were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for residuals scars of left ankle repair and remanded the claims for service connection for migraines and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to a need for further development.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of GERD and verification of Persian Gulf veteran status.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the assignment of 20 percent ratings and higher disability ratings for various conditions, including left hip strain with flexion, abduction/adduction, and rotation; left ankle sprain; and allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current and historical severity of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board granted service connection for right eye dry eye syndrome and PTSD, while denying service connection for anxiety and insomnia. The Veteran was also granted higher ratings for his left eye and PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis due to an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence, while remanding the claims for low back, left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD and eczematous dermatitis of the ankles, leading to their dismissal.

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder, thoracolumbar spine, and ankle disabilities based on their relationship to the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted an increased rating of 20 percent for left ankle osteochondritis dissecans and degenerative arthritis with left gastrocnemius contracture as residuals status post left ankle arthroscopic surgery, but denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and left leg syndesmosis instability.

The Board denied service connection for multiple musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link between any of these conditions and the Veteran's active military service.

The Board granted service connection for right foot pain, a right knee condition, and a right ankle condition based on the evidence showing that these conditions are causally related to injuries sustained during National Guard service.

The Board remands the claim for a left lower leg disability, to include a left ankle disability, for further development and an examination.

The Board granted a separate rating of 20 percent for left and right knee instability, but denied increased ratings based on limitation of motion for the knees and ankles.

The Board denied increased ratings for generalized seizure disorder, chronic sinusitis, deviated nasal septum, and scars, but granted increased ratings of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease in the left and right ankles.

The Board granted service connection for gout affecting the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, and hands as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left and right toe gout.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for hypertension, right ankle sprain with ligamentous laxity, right knee scar, and coronary artery disease with hypertensive heart disease. The left knee and right knee patellofemoral syndrome issues were remanded.