Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board granted increased compensable evaluations for the Veteran's status post left ankle sprain, status post right ankle sprain, and medial epicondylitis of the left elbow. The claim for service connection for a left knee disability was denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and left ankle disability to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for a brain aneurysm and its residuals, including vertigo, equilibrium problems, dizziness and nausea, numbness and tingling left side, disability manifested by grafted muscle tissue for brain surgery, decreased vision, and headaches.

The Board granted service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder and alcohol use disorder, but denied service connection for nightmares, fatigue, a right ankle disability, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, a compensable initial rating for dental loss, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied increased ratings for PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder, lumbosacral strain, right elbow burn scars, pseudofolliculitis barbae, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, low testosterone, and left knee disability. However, service connection was granted for TBI, left forehead scar, and left arm scars.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left shoulder disability, and right ankle disability based on the evidence being in approximate balance regarding their etiological relationship to active-duty service.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle strain and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for an anxiety disorder, but remanded the claims for a low back disability and TDIU.

The Board grants service connection for major depressive disorder with alcohol abuse disorder, as it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.,The Board grants service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff condition, as it is related to the Veteran's military service.,The Board grants service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff condition, as it is related to the Veteran's military service.,The Board grants service connection for vertigo, as it is related to the Veteran's military service.,The Board grants service connection for left ankle arthritis, as it is related to the Veteran's military service.,The Board grants service connection for right ankle arthritis, as it is related to the Veteran's military service.,The Board denies service connection for status post right bicep tear, as it is not related to the Veteran's military service.,The Board denies service connection for a left arm disorder, diagnosed as left bicep pain, as it is not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, right knee, and left elbow disabilities but denied service connection for left ankle, right ankle, penile condition, sinusitis, left lower extremity shin splints, right lower extremity shin splints, and left elbow disabilities.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for service connection for left ankle condition, plantar fasciitis, and a rating of left patellar subluxation.

The Veteran's dry eye syndrome is granted service connection due to an in-service injury. Several other claims for service connection are remanded.

The appeal was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle disability, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right shoulder disability, and a scar, status post pilonidal cyst. The Board also remanded entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction.

The Board remands the claims for service connection of various joint conditions as secondary to residuals of thyroidectomy and partial parathyroidectomy status post papillary thyroid cancer due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for multiple joint conditions, including left and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, elbow osteoarthritis, ankle strain, hip strain, and wrist strain.

The Board granted service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, left ankle sprain, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease and spinal fusion based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle tendonitis and right hip bursitis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a hernia and left ankle to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right ankle condition, back condition, and left knee condition.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, back pain, and tendonitis right ankle due to a need for further development of the record.