Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and bilateral tinnitus. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied. Other claims were either granted or remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type I and rheumatoid arthritis of multiple joints, as well as Hashimoto's thyroiditis and diabetic retinopathy, due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their relationship to in-service toxic exposure.

The Board granted service connection for right ankle osteochondritis dissecans and denied an initial compensable rating for left knee disability based on limitation of extension.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder disability and remanded claims for increased ratings for his left knee sprain and service connection for a left ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, a right ankle condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a left ankle condition and a right shoulder condition, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board granted a 20 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and denied an increased rating for his unspecified depressive disorder, as well as service connection for a right ankle condition.

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

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and left foot disorder as they did not have their onsets during service or within one year of discharge and are not otherwise related to service.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle condition, finding it was at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active service. The right ankle condition issue was remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for various bilateral musculoskeletal conditions and obstructive sleep apnea as they were not related to the Veteran's service or a service-connected disability.

The Board granted increased ratings of 20 percent, the schedular maximum, for left ankle sprain and 40 percent for both left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records.

The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent rating for radiculopathy in both lower extremities and an initial 20 percent rating for left ankle degenerative arthritis, while denying a compensable rating for right hallux valgus.

The Board granted an initial 40 percent rating for chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative disk disease and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a separate 20 percent rating for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The claims for increased ratings for the remaining conditions were denied.

The Board denied service connection for acid reflux, right and left hip, right and left knee, and right ankle disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding of chronic disability during or related to active duty.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and chronic bronchitis based on evidence showing that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, as well as a TDIU.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of zero percent for a right ankle scar and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals from a right ankle sprain and fracture.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder and a gastrointestinal disorder, as the evidence did not support current diagnoses or functional impairments related to these conditions during or approximate to the pendency of the claims.