Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, low back disability, knee strains, foot disability, and others, due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, while remanding claims for muscular dystrophy and special monthly compensation.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including left foot plantar fasciitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, and other musculoskeletal issues, as the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability related to in-service injury or event.

The Board granted service connection for slipped capital femoral epiphyses of both hips and an initial evaluation of 40 percent for left ankle arthritis, but remanded the claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board granted service connection for right ankle right lateral collateral ligament sprain (chronic/recurrent) and posterior tibial tendonitis, but denied a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. Several claims for service connection were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for tendonitis of the left ankle and cellulitis of the left lower extremity to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left shin splints, granted service connection for CFS, and denied increased ratings for ankle and back disabilities.

The Board granted an evaluation of 40 percent for the service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, 20 percent for the left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and 40 percent for the status-post arthroscopy for adhesive capsulitis & debridement of partial labral tear (right shoulder) from June 2, 2021, to January 28, 2024.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his left ankle strain and right ankle strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board denied service connection for alcohol use disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and a right ankle disorder. However, it granted an increased initial rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle conditions due to missing service records and an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board granted service connection for a left foot disorder, to include left ankle arthritis, metatarsalgia, and chronic left foot pain, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for left and right ankle fractures with nonunion, finding that these conditions pre-existed the Veteran's service and were not aggravated by it.

The Board granted service connection for right knee, left ankle, and lumbar spine disabilities but denied an increased evaluation greater than 10 percent for the left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD, while denying other claims. The remaining claims were remanded.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed, and appeals for earlier effective dates for cervical disc disease, lumbar degenerative disc disease, arthritis in both hands, and right ankle sprain were denied.

The Board granted service connection for headaches and a left knee condition, but denied service connection for hearing loss, vertigo, right ankle, right knee, and right wrist conditions. The claims for lumbar spine and allergic rhinitis were remanded.

The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent rating for the right ankle disability, denied an increased rating for bilateral pes planus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, while remanding several service connection claims.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for right knee instability but denied a higher rating, and granted earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits.