Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability on a direct basis, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's current left ankle disability and his active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for varicocele and rating tendonitis of the right ankle in excess of 10 percent to obtain additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a left foot and ankle disability as the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the disabilities and active service.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for multiple conditions was dismissed due to a late filing.

The Board granted service connection for left wrist strain, right wrist strain, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition as secondary to service-connected lupus. Service connection was also granted for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis as secondary to psoriasis.

The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and denied the claims for diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, increased rating for somatic symptom disorder with persistent depressive disorder and intermittent explosive disorder, and increased rating for left ankle sprain.

The Veteran has been granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation due to the service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left knee chronic gouty arthritis, right knee chronic gouty arthritis, and left ankle lateral ligamentous laxity. The claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as earlier effective dates, were denied.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right ankle disability due to an inadequate VA examination report.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis, granted service connection for tinnitus, and remanded claims related to the right ankle, low back, and residuals of a right triquetral fracture.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including pseudofolliculitis barbae, right shoulder disability, right ankle achilles disability, right toe disability, bilateral flatfoot, and tinnitus.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance that these conditions were incurred in or otherwise related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's GERD was granted a 30 percent rating, while the left ankle strain was denied an increased rating between January 25, 2022, and June 8, 2024, but granted a 20 percent rating from June 8, 2024, forward.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for sinusitis and rhinitis, as well as service connection for a left ankle strain.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including ankle pain, chronic lower back pain, GERD, hair thinning/loss, IBS, and others, as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including GERD, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability, and multiple musculoskeletal and other conditions, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the claims for bilateral ankle arthritis, sleep apnea, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, erectile dysfunction, degenerative disc disease, cervical, bilateral plantar fasciitis with arthritis and heel spurs, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Board granted an initial disability evaluation of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder and remanded claims for a higher rating for the same condition, as well as a claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher initial and subsequent disability ratings for right ankle strain, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 22, 2024, or a rating greater than 20 percent thereafter.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back, left ankle, and left hip disability as well as entitlement to TDIU due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.