Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, except for a 30 percent rating for GERD.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle disability and reopened claims for a chronic upper respiratory infection, but denied other claims including service connection for pain of the thoracic spine, bilateral restless leg syndrome (RLS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), psychiatric disability, back disability, lower extremity radiculopathy, right ankle disability, rhinitis, sinus arrhythmia, and various other conditions.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and an initial 70 percent rating, but not higher, for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The appeal was denied for an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for inner lip scars, and the claims for service connection for various disabilities were remanded due to missing records and a need for additional medical evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, finding no current disability and no evidence of a relationship to service.

The Board denied higher initial ratings for left and right achilles tendon ruptures, bilateral hearing loss, and right ankle scar but granted a 10 percent rating for painful right ankle scar and service connection for adjustment disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle disability and a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, but remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to reschedule a VA examination.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for left ankle and right leg condition.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and an initial compensable disability rating due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, including the need for VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for various conditions, due to a failure to provide notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, to include pneumonia. A 10 percent rating was granted for bilateral hearing loss but denied increased ratings for right ankle and tinnitus disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded certain issues for further development.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities as they are not related to the Veteran's in-service injuries or conditions.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbar strain but denied higher ratings and service connection for other conditions.

The appeal for service connection for left shoulder disability was granted in full, and the issues of entitlement to a rating higher than 10 percent for right hamstring tendonitis, left elbow bursitis, chronic left ankle sprain, and low back disability were denied or dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for shin splints, a low back disability, and a left ankle disability. The effective date for the award of service connection for unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress was also denied.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder and a rating in excess of 10 percent for a status post left ankle fracture to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed right elbow, left elbow, cervical spine, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle conditions as they were not shown to be etiologically related to his active-duty service.

The Board remands the issues of ratings for right and left knee chondromalacia with retropatellar pain syndrome, genu recurvatum, and meniscal repair residuals, as well as initial ratings for right and left ankle strain residuals, to ensure a complete record is available.