Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow, right ankle, and left ankle conditions. The Veteran will receive additional medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of a right ankle disability because the Veteran's evidence was not fully considered. The case will be reviewed again with all available evidence.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for back disability was denied. However, the veteran was granted a 20% rating for right lower extremity sciatic and femoral radiculopathy from September 17, 2019, to present.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a right ankle strain is granted, with the effective date set to October 17, 2022.

The Board remanded all issues to the VA for further evaluation and examinations. The Veteran's claims were not granted or denied at this time.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for several service-connected disabilities and initial ratings in excess of the assigned percentages. An increased rating of 20 percent was granted for the right ankle disability. Claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities were denied. The claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, hypertension, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and entitlement to TDIU were remanded.

The Board remanded the veteran's claim for a higher rating of his left ankle disability to obtain an addendum medical opinion on whether his condition meets the criteria for ankylosis or its functional equivalent.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's right ankle disability, finding no evidence that it was incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board remands the appeal for a current ankle examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board remands the case to obtain an adequate VA examination, including evaluation of flares and range of motion estimates, for the right ankle disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right shoulder disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, low back disability, and obstructive sleep apnea, to obtain additional medical opinions addressing aggravation as distinct from causation.

The Board has granted service connection for a left foot disability as aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right foot and ankle osteoarthritis. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board dismissed claims for diverticulitis, hiatal hernia, right ankle disability, and left finger scar. Claims for left ankle disability and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. Other conditions were remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for status post right little finger metacarpal chip fracture was denied. Service connection for hemorrhoids was granted. Other claims were either denied or remanded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, right hip, and right ankle disabilities were withdrawn. The claims for left foot disability, low back disability, left hip disability, left ankle disability, and respiratory disability were denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's left ankle, left foot hallux valgus, right foot hallux valgus, and scars. The claims for increased ratings for left knee and right knee disabilities were remanded.

The veteran's appeal for service connection of a back disability was granted due to new and relevant evidence. All other issues were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for both left and right ankle disabilities, stating that the veteran does not have a current disability.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for right breast abscess was denied. Service connection was granted for GERD, right hip DJD, left hip bursitis with DJD, right knee DJD, left knee DJD, sinusitis, overactive bladder disability, tension headache disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability. Claims for CFS, heat exhaustion, hemorrhoids, irritable colon syndrome, and skin disability were denied.