Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including headaches, bilateral pes planus, erectile dysfunction, and others, as the evidence did not support a conclusion that these disabilities were incurred in or caused by active military service.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including right ankle, right knee, bilateral restless leg syndrome, psychiatric disability, and left knee torn ACL surgery with scar, aggressive infection, and limited range of motion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left ankle strain, a left foot disability (numbness in the toes), and a right foot disability (numbness in the toes) as further development is necessary to address pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 7, 2011, for service connection of a left ankle condition and right ankle condition.

The appeal for service connection for chronic sinusitis, left ankle degenerative arthritis, and rhinitis has been dismissed by the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation, and a causal relationship between the claimed condition and active duty. The remaining claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a back disorder, diagnosed as stenosis with degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine. The other issues were remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle sprain, headaches, lumbar strain, and PTSD were denied based on his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for a right knee disability, left knee disability, back disability, bilateral foot disability, right ankle disability, and loss of smell.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left foot and ankle disabilities, as well as a left hip disability, due to a failure to provide notice of the Veteran's right to a pre-decisional hearing.

The Board remanded the claims for service connection of various conditions and readjudicated the claim for a left wrist condition, finding new and relevant evidence. The appeal for PTSD was dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including pes planus with heel pain, ankle sprains, and knee injuries.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's total right ankle arthroplasty with chronic residuals from December 1, 2022, and a 30 percent rating for his right ankle surgical scars from April 17, 2023.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded claims related to radiculopathy, while denying service connection for hypertension, foot disabilities, knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, and sleep apnea.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for asbestosis with obstructive sleep apnea, granted a 40 percent rating for lumbar spine disability, and denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee disabilities, but granted a 20 percent rating for the right ankle disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right leg condition, right ankle condition, metatarsalgia as secondary to a right leg condition, and fat pad atrophy due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for right knee strain and right ankle degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence supports a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine mid/lower back beginning on October 26, 2023, and denied increased ratings for left ankle strain, right ankle strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, and tension headaches.

The Board denied service connection for T1-T2 scoliosis, a right ankle disability, and a right hip disability. The increased rating claim for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy was also denied.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for further development and to ensure compliance with a Joint Motion for Remand.