Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle condition and remanded the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include depression and PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no evidence of a current disability or sufficient link to military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including lumbar spine, right hip, left hip, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities, to obtain additional medical opinions regarding their relationship to the Veteran's service-connected flat foot with plantar fasciitis and bilateral bone spur.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for lumbosacral strain, tinnitus, bilateral flat feet, and left ankle deltoid ligament sprain with instability were dismissed due to untimely Board Appeal requests.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence of a current disability. The claims for left ankle condition and heart condition were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress was found to more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with bruxism, as well as remanded claims for service connection and increased rating.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including left hip pain, right hip strain, left knee strain (claimed as instability), and right knee strain (claimed as instability) due to a lack of evidence supporting their direct relationship with his active military service. The claims for chronic plantar fasciitis, bilateral; right ankle strain; right shoulder strain; and chronic back pain were also denied.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and a 40 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied an increased rating for the chronic right ankle sprain with peroneus brevis tendon split tear.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection and increased rating claims, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for migraine headaches and a left ankle disability to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, granted a 0% rating for cholinergic urticaria, quiescent, and remanded the claim for hypertension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, left knee strain status post left fibula and ankle injuries, right knee strain with painful motion, and right knee strain with limitation of extension.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for left and right ankle conditions and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, including spinal arthritis of the neck and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the neck/upper back. However, tinnitus was granted, and a 20% rating was assigned for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for further development, specifically to obtain relevant Social Security Administration records.

The Board granted a 20 percent evaluation for the right ankle strain status post ORIF surgery and right distal fibula fracture, from November 1, 2021.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 20 percent for hypertension. However, it granted a 20 percent rating for left ankle disability and right fibula disability.

The Board denied service connection for a bladder disability, gynecological condition, right ankle disability, and lower back disability as these conditions are not related to an in-service injury, disease, or event.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, bilateral knee, hip, shoulder, and ankle disorders as they are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.