Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including IBS, somatic symptom disorder, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and various radiculopathies and strains, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted a 70 percent disability rating for the period of January 29, 2020 to February 23, 2023 and from June 7, 2023 due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. Other claims were denied.

The Board granted service connection for cervical and lumbar conditions, chronic migraines, and MDD. The claims for hives, lung scarring, elbow and ankle conditions as secondary to Valley Fever were readjudicated based on new evidence.

The veteran was granted a rating of at least 10 percent for left ankle scars and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD with gastritis, as well as service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's motion for revision, based on clear and unmistakable error, of the November 26, 2013, Rating Decision that assigned initial noncompensable disability ratings for multiple conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for Sunscreen SPF 30 as there is no evidence that he was prescribed sunscreen for a service-connected disability.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the service-connected tenia pedis and onychomycosis bilateral feet, denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, and remanded several claims for further development.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the right ankle disability and a 40 percent rating from February 5, 2021 to March 18, 2024 for the low back disability. Service connection was also granted for sciatic nerve conditions in both lower extremities as secondary to the lumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a right ankle condition due to a duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for right ankle tendinitis and impingement syndrome, synovitis, and degenerative arthritis of the left ankle as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, denied earlier effective dates for the evaluation of right ankle and peripheral vestibular disorders, and denied increased ratings for right ankle and peripheral vestibular disorders as well as a compensable rating for right ear drum perforation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for higher initial ratings of right and left ankle strain, and right and left knee strain.

The Board denied service connection for various claimed disabilities, including right and left knee replacements, ankle sprains, neck strain, lumbosacral strain, rotator cuff tear, shoulder dislocation, and sleep apnea, as the evidence did not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The appeal resulted in the denial of earlier effective dates for service connection and remanded several issues related to initial ratings.

The Board granted service connection for asthma, tinnitus, and eczema with an effective date of October 3, 2019, and granted service connection for pes planus. Other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board is remanding the claims for a new examination to provide an adequate statement of reasons or bases regarding whether higher disability ratings are warranted.

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for a right ankle disability to obtain an opinion on whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and a right ankle disorder as secondary to service-connected pes planus, but remanded several other issues including entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for various scars and TDIU.

The appeal for increased ratings of the Veteran's left and right ankle strains was dismissed due to untimely filing.