Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include major depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, effective March 15, 2021. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board granted initial disability ratings of 10 percent for right ankle strain, 20 percent for right ankle instability, and 50 percent for headaches.

The Board denied the claims for compensable ratings for left and right hip strain, limitation of extension and flexion, as well as for left and right ankle sprain. However, a 30 percent rating was granted for peritoneal adhesions and GERD with IBS.

The Board granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, cervical spine, lumbar spine disability (including IVDS), right ankle, and right knee based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for right eye vitreous degeneration, right ankle disability, foot pain, and low back condition as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal before the Board, and all pending issues have been dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, as currently diagnosed, related to in-service military sexual trauma (MST).

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, chronic cough syndrome, left and right ankle disabilities, right shoulder disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, earlier effective dates for PTSD and non-painful right index finger scar, and a higher rating for painful right index finger scar. However, the Veteran was granted an initial 50 percent rating for service-connected PTSD.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to incomplete VA examinations.

The Board denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for the right ankle disability prior to September 1, 2020, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, as well as total disability due to individual unemployability.

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left foot plantar fasciitis with bilateral pes planus, and right ankle chronic instability but denied service connection for a left groin strain.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability due to outstanding records and the need for clarification of lay statements.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle, and right knee disabilities as the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) and remanded the claims for diabetes, hypertension, skin pigmentation, heart murmur, hip replacement, and left leg injury to include a left ankle and left knee condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability as the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current condition was related to an in-service injury.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right ankle disability, resolving any reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right ankle condition and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as a 100 percent evaluation for persistent depressive disorder.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and increased the rating for obstructive sleep apnea to 50 percent, while denying service connection for hypertension and other claims.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for left ankle scar and entitlement to a compensable rating was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal in May 2018.