Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an increased evaluation for service-connected left ankle, special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, as well as effective dates prior to certain dates for dermatitis, IBS, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeals for service connection and rating claims, and they are hereby dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection for right ankle pain was granted, while his claims for ED and prostate cancer were denied.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and higher ratings for various disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, residual surgical scar of the right shoulder, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with depressive disorder, left foot plantar fasciitis with pes planus and metatarsalgia, fracture of the left ankle, and residuals, fracture, left third metacarpal/long finger.

The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent evaluation for left ankle sprain from August 18, 2020, and a 30 percent evaluation for the left foot disability. The claims for increased ratings for painful and unstable left ankle scars and residual left ankle scars were denied, as was the claim for TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, as well as service connection for various disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded certain issues.

The appeal for service connection for left ankle strain, left hip osteoarthritis, and a left lower extremity condition was dismissed due to the untimely filing of the Board Appeal request.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, found that a reduction in the evaluation of his left ankle surgical scars was not proper, and denied his claim for TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for PTSD, and a compensable rating for left ankle arthritis.

The Board remands the issue of an increased disability rating for right ankle arthritis due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD, a stomach condition, bilateral flatfoot, headaches, left and right ankle conditions, and left and right knee conditions due to a pre-decisional duty to assist omission.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, granted service connection for a left shoulder strain and an initial rating of 100 percent for right knee instability s/p ACL reconstruction, and remanded claims related to adjustment disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis and a rating greater than 20 percent for the right ankle condition.

The Board granted restoration of the 20 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine, effective September 28, 2020, and granted service connection for fibromyalgia. The other claims were either denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, left knee osteoarthritis, and left ankle sprain, while denying service connection for hypertension. The Board also granted an initial 20% rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome but denied compensable ratings for bilateral pinguecula and a right ring finger disability.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for other conditions due to a lack of evidence.

The veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review this appeal.

The Board granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and remanded the claim for a heart disability, while denying service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, left ankle strain, and right ankle strain.