Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a right hip condition, back condition, and right ankle strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, mood disorder with depressive and anxious features, benign growth of the spinal cord with spondylosis and anterolisthesis, residuals of right ankle sprain with traumatic arthritis, and otitis media, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted service connection for right and left hand conditions, a 50 percent rating for migraines, and remanded several other claims for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right upper extremity neuropathy, to include as secondary to a right elbow condition and denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The Board also remanded several claims for further development.

The Board denied service connection for various knee, ankle, and foot disorders as well as special monthly compensation based on the need of aid and attendance or housebound status due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Board granted an increased, 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's right ankle sprain/calcaneal spurs and service connection for cervical spine, major depressive disorder, left ankle, and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to his right ankle condition.

The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but remanded claims for back, left knee, left hip, and left ankle disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy, and remanded claims for service connection for a left wrist disability, erectile dysfunction, tension headaches, a left shoulder disability, and left lateral collateral ligament sprain (left ankle disability).

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and left ankle disabilities secondary to obesity due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for timely filing of a Board Appeal request and dismissed the attempted appeals.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a right ankle disability to obtain an addendum opinion.

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

The Board denied service connection for a neck condition, left shoulder condition, right ankle condition, right wrist condition, right knee condition, and facial scars as the evidence did not support the existence of these conditions during or proximate to the claim period.

The appeal of whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen a claim of service connection for a left ankle fracture is dismissed. The Board will consider the Veteran's claims for service connection for a brain tumor and heart disease related to in-service exposure to commercial herbicides, PCBs, and asbestos.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, left knee, low back, right ankle, and right knee disabilities secondary to bilateral pes planus due to a need for additional medical opinions.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records from 1974 to 2023.

The Board denied service connection for tension headaches and eye surgery, granted a 10 percent evaluation for the right leg scar, and remanded several other issues related to service connection.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and readjudicating the cases.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, resolving doubt in the Veteran's favor. The other claims are remanded due to a duty to assist error.