Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and remanded claims related to a low back disability, bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome, and other conditions due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right knee, right foot/ankle, left hand, and right hand disabilities to correct a duty to assist error by obtaining new VA examinations and opinions.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle condition and a left shoulder condition, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for allergic rhinitis, RLS, CFS, IBS, respiratory dyspnea, chronic headaches, and an increased rating for the psychiatric condition were remanded.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection claims.

The Board remands the claim for a refund of a VA funding fee to obtain additional records and readjudicate the decision with consideration that the Veteran was still on active duty and receiving service pay at the time of the closing of his home loan.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, granted a 30 percent rating for his right knee disability, and remanded an acquired psychiatric disorder claim.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the right ankle fracture with posttraumatic arthritis and a 10 percent rating for the painful right ankle surgical scar, effective from June 7, 2023.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and denied service connection for various other conditions, including cluster headaches, traumatic brain injury, allergic rhinitis, and others. Some claims were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for an initial increased disability evaluation rating in excess of 10 percent for right and left ankle strains due to an inadequate VA musculoskeletal examination.

The Veteran's service connection for GERD was granted, while the claims for left and right hand degenerative arthritis were denied. The rating for his right ankle condition was increased to 20 percent effective September 25, 2014.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and service connection, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

The Board granted the appeal as to the severance of service connection for bilateral elbow, left knee, and right ankle disabilities due to evidence indicating these conditions were incurred during the Veteran's time in service.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral posterior tibial tendon (PT) tendonitis, bilateral peroneal tendonitis, and left ankle sprain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability. The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis and bilateral hallux valgus.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, neck disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right ankle disability, left leg shin splints, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right pinky finger disability, hypertension, tuberculosis, and GERD. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board granted service connection for chronic sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea as due to herein service-connected chronic sinusitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. It also granted increased ratings of 20 percent for the left knee disability and 30 percent for the right knee disability.

The Board granted the restoration of service connection for left shoulder benign scapulothoracic crepitus and remanded other issues for further consideration.

The claims for service connection for a back condition, left knee condition, and right ankle condition are remanded to provide the Veteran with notice of her right to a hearing regarding these claims.

The Board remands the issues of an earlier effective date, initial rating for a left ankle disability, and TDIU due to additional development needed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for a 20 percent rating for cervical IVDS with degenerative arthritis and segmental instability from December 22, 2021 to January 12, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right ankle strain, as well as left and right knee instability with degenerative arthritis, on the basis of the bilateral factor.