Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board has remanded the claims for new and material evidence to reopen service connection for left leg and right leg shin splints, as well as other issues including sinusitis, ankle sprain, heel spurs, chronic fatigue syndrome, and peripheral neuropathy in various extremities.

The veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection of various conditions, including degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and bilateral ankle sprain.

The Board granted service connection for rhinitis, right hip strain, and left ankle strain but dismissed the claim for sinusitis as moot. The increased rating claim for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left ankle disability, as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a left ankle disability due to VA's failure to notify the Veteran that the address provided for private treatment records was incorrect and the Regional Office's inadequate nexus opinion.

The Board denied an initial rating greater than 10 percent for left Achilles tendonitis based on limitation of motion from May 20, 2013 to April 19, 2018 and an initial rating greater than 20 percent for a left ankle condition based on limitation of motion from April 20, 2018 onward. However, the Board granted a separate initial disability rating of 20 percent for left ankle instability and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition.

The Board denied service connection for hearing problems, sleep problems, and left shoulder torn ligament. The Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain were not rated compensably.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's left ankle disability, effective from the date of service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability rating and service connection for various conditions, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to military service.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, left hip, and left wrist disabilities, as well as tinnitus.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for cervical strain, left wrist condition, left ankle condition, anxiety, and depression due to a withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for a left ankle disability and remanded claims for service connection for a left foot disability and right knee disability.

The Board denied several claims for increased ratings and granted a 20 percent rating for the left ankle disability, while denying all other claims.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent disability rating for his left ankle degenerative arthritis from July 1, 2023, to April 5, 2024, but the claim for a compensable disability rating for surgical scars was denied.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disorder and assigned a 10 percent rating, while denying service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other gout-related conditions.

The Board remands all claims for service connection due to pre-decisional errors in the duty to assist, including missing service treatment records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denied service connection for degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lower back, left shoulder fracture and rotator cuff tendinosis with arthritis, and right ankle strain with pain.

The Board remands the appeal for readjudication of service connection claims, primarily focusing on a left heel disability and its secondary effects.

The Board granted service connection for right-sided ulnar neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right elbow disability and remanded several other claims related to various leg, knee, ankle disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition was caused by an in-service injury.