Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and granted a TDIU.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of 10 percent evaluations for left lower extremity sural nerve neuritis and remanded other claims for further development.

The Board denied service connection for left, right ankle disabilities, scrotal disability, and pituitary gland disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by active military service.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle condition due to a duty to assist error in obtaining a medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left ankle pain, and remanded the claims for increased ratings in excess of 30 percent for chronic headaches, 20 percent for a back disability, 10 percent for a neck disability, 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, and 10 percent for right foot plantar fasciitis, as well as service connection for a traumatic brain injury.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis and the Veteran's symptoms do not rise to the level of functional impairment.

The Board denied service connection for left and right hip osteoarthritis, finding no evidence that these conditions were caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The claims for secondary service connection for bilateral flatfoot, right ankle degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis are remanded for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to correct the pre-decisional duty to assist error and to obtain an adequate VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for multiple musculoskeletal conditions due to a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the October 2021 rating decision on appeal.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for limited flexion of the left forearm and remanded claims for increased disability ratings for various conditions, including supination/pronation of the left elbow, left ankle strain, and left elbow strain, limitation of extension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions appealed.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities, including right and left wrist, hand, hip, ankle, elbow, respiratory, chest pain, hypotension, and throat conditions. However, the Board granted service connection for a respiratory disability, diagnosed as dyspnea.

The Board remands the claims for a compensable rating and service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased ratings to obtain additional evidence, including VA medical opinions addressing the nexus between the Veteran's claimed disabilities and toxic exposure during service in Kuwait.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left ankle disability and an initial 30 percent rating for sinusitis.

The Board dismissed the appeals seeking to reopen service connection claims for various conditions on the basis of new and relevant evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of the left ankle/foot, as there was no evidence that the Veteran had lost effective function in his foot other than what would be equally well served by an amputation with a prosthesis.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including hypertension, back disability, and various musculoskeletal issues, but remanded the claims for shin splints and a penile condition for further development.

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to determine the current level of severity of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for cardiac arrhythmia, CFS, a right ankle disability, a right knee disability, bilateral hand tremors, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy with restless leg syndrome.