Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder, DMII, heart disorder, right shoulder disorder, hypertension, low back disorder, bladder cancer, and left and right lung disease as the weight of the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension was denied, and the service connection claim for a right ankle disability was remanded.

The Board remanded the Veteran's eligibility for enrollment in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers because the initial VA decision was conclusory and based on an incorrect interpretation of regulatory requirements for 'need for supervision, protection, or instruction.' A new medical opinion must be obtained that properly applies the correct statutory criteria and addresses how the Veteran's diagnoses affect daily functioning.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis, right and left ankle disabilities, a low back disability, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities as secondary to the low back disability.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of various conditions based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a March 1995 rating decision.

The appeal was dismissed as the Veteran did not timely file a Board Appeal request with respect to the rating decision issued on October 19, 2022.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for migraines, cervical spinal stenosis, a scar on neck, and right ankle disability, as well as increased ratings for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The appeal for service connection for PTSD was denied due to insufficient evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, neck, back, headache, right ankle, right knee, right shoulder, and right elbow disorders, penile disorder (erectile dysfunction), and sleep apnea, to correct a pre-decisional error by verifying the Veteran's duty status in January 2017 and obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for left ankle disability, finding no pending or unadjudicated claim prior to June 20, 2023.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, lumbosacral strain (secondary to service-connected knee and ankle disabilities), hypertension, diabetes, and bilateral hands arthritis due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis, other than posttraumatic.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for sinusitis, increased ratings for multiple sclerosis and GERD, and an increased rating for a left ankle disability to obtain additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left hallux valgus, as well as the denial of a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral pes planus with degenerative arthritis, were decided. The appeal was also granted for service connection for right leg pain, left leg pain, right ankle condition (also claimed as Achilles tendon), and left ankle condition (also claimed as Achilles tendon).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, remanding some issues for further development.

The Veteran's effective date for the award of service connection for right ankle arthropathy is granted as March 30, 2013, which is the day following his separation from active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right ankle and bilateral foot disabilities to correct a failure by the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) to fulfill a regulatory duty.

The Board denied service connection for psoriatic arthritis of the bilateral knees and ankles, as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis and a right wrist disability, as there was no evidence of these conditions during or shortly after his military service. The claims for other disabilities were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a right ankle condition, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral keratoconus, but remanded the claim for right ankle tendonitis.