Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis and remanded the other claims for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle sprain, right knee patellar tendinosis, degenerative arthritis of lumbar spine with thoracolumbar spine strain, gastroesophageal reflux disease with eosinophilic esophagitis (GERD), and major depressive disorder.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's left fifth finger and right knee scars, as well as remanded claims for increased ratings for his right knee degenerative arthritis status post right knee replacement with residual strain, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left little finger ankylosis at the proximal interphalangeal joint status post fusion, and right little finger fracture.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for all service connection and initial rating claims, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board remands the issues for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right ankle sprain, and left foot strain, as well as remanded the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, headaches, shoulder disorders, ankle disorders, hip disorders, lumbar disorder, and lower extremity radiculopathy, to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for depressive disorder and tinnitus, remanded claims for a right wrist disability, a right ankle disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and an OSA rating.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder, right knee disorder, right and left shoulder disorders, lower back disorder, right and left ankle disorders, acquired mental disorder, to include anxiety and insomnia, and erectile dysfunction due to a need for additional evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates as there is no justiciable case or controversy with respect to these issues.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, left ankle disorder, and sleep disorder. The Veteran's cervical strain was rated at 10 percent, and the effective dates for the grants of service connection for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy were also denied.

The Veteran's lung condition, to include shortness of breath, is granted service connection as a presumptive disability due to undiagnosed illness and exposure in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, as well as a higher rate of special monthly compensation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle fracture, finding that the condition was not aggravated beyond its natural progression during military service.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including a neck disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability. The Board also denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a right shoulder strain but granted an effective date of April 1, 2021, for a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for degenerative changes of the left ankle, effective June 29, 2019. The issues regarding increased ratings and TDIU were remanded.

The Board denied increased ratings for multiple service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder impingement syndrome, lumbosacral strain, left and right ankle sprains with degenerative arthritis, left and right knee retropatellar pain syndromes with degenerative arthritis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae with acne keloidalis nuchae.

The Board denied the claim for an increased disability rating for right ankle condition and remanded the claim for service connection of right foot Morton's neuroma, secondary to a service-connected right ankle condition.

The appeal regarding service connection for PTSD was dismissed, while the claims for a right shoulder disability and tinnitus were granted. Other claims for hearing loss, asthma, hip disability, COPD, eye disability, stomach disability, and left ankle disability were denied or remanded.