Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder as caused or aggravated by service-connected bilateral knee disability due to lack of medical evidence showing a causal relationship.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle condition and an acquired psychiatric condition were granted. The claims for a low back condition and a left knee condition were remanded.

The Board remanded all issues to obtain new medical opinions on the veteran's service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left elbow disability, sleep apnea, and migraine headaches. It also denied a compensable rating for the left ankle scar but remanded claims for the left wrist and left knee disabilities.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for ankle sprains were denied, but separate 10 percent ratings for ankle instability were granted. The claim for a higher rating for left knee osteoarthritis and TDIU was remanded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was granted. Claims for other disabilities were denied or remanded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for lower cervical spine/brachial plexus was dismissed. An effective date of August 12, 2022, was granted for depressive disorder with insomnia. Other claims were remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, left hip, right hip, and left ankle disabilities were denied. The claim for a back disability was remanded.

Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. A compensable rating for left lower extremity surgery scar is denied. All other issues are remanded.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD and a right ankle disability was dismissed because the veteran requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board denied some claims and granted others. The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for left knee strain and left foot strain but denied higher ratings for other conditions.

The appeal for hypertension was dismissed because it was already granted. Service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD), right ankle disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability were granted.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral flatfoot and left shoulder condition was denied due to lack of new evidence. The appeals for left knee, right knee, low back conditions, and chronic right ankle disability were remanded for reconsideration based on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to non-compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's character of discharge from service and his right ankle disability are both under review.

The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for bilateral pes cavus with plantar fasciitis was granted, but the claims for higher ratings for left and right ankle strains were remanded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and right ankle disabilities have been remanded. The Board ordered additional VA examinations to be scheduled.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to August 3, 2021.

The Veteran's service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The left knee and left ankle disabilities are remanded as the criteria for increased ratings have not been met.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear statements from VA examiners regarding functional impairment and flare-ups. The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection for several conditions was dismissed because the veteran withdrew the appeal.