Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), all as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected conditions. The Board also granted a 20 percent rating for right ankle arthritis.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right ankle joint pain, left ankle joint pain, and left wrist joint pain as the Veteran has not been afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating for left ankle strain and TDIU due to incomplete records from MedFirst Primary Care and SSA disability documents.

The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, sinusitis, and right ankle strain with limitation of motion and pain.

The Board granted service connection for left knee disability, left ankle disability, left heel disability, and obstructive sleep apnea based on the evidence being at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset in service.

The Board granted service connection for the right ankle condition but denied service connection for PTSD and the right knee condition.

The Board granted a separate 20 percent rating for right ankle instability associated with the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, but denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the same condition.

The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, chronic, but denied earlier effective dates and service connection for left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and stress fracture of the right femur.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for residuals of right ankle sprain, allergies, bilateral flat feet, and a psychiatric disorder to provide notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, left and right hand conditions, upper or lower back condition, neck condition, left and right ankle disabilities, and left and right knee disabilities as there was no evidence of a current disability related to active service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues related to the right ankle, lumbar spine, cervical spine, and pes planus were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's left ankle and left wrist disabilities as there was no evidence showing that these conditions had their onset during active duty or were otherwise related to his military service.

The Board remands the claims for higher initial disability ratings and entitlement to TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted direct service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, an increased evaluation of 40 percent for the low back condition, and an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the left ankle condition.

The Board remands the claims for service connection as they require further development, including new medical opinions and additional evidence.

The claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right foot, right ankle, bilateral knee, and acquired psychiatric disorders are remanded for readjudication based on new evidence.

The Board granted service connection for headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral tinnitus, and a left ankle disability. The claims for increased ratings for a painful scar on the left thigh, sinusitis, and onychomycosis of the great toes were denied, as was the claim for left ear hearing loss.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to ensure that due process is followed, as the previous examinations did not fully comply with VA's duty to assist requirements.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased ratings, granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for left knee osteoarthritis with limitation of extension, and remanded claims for service connection for varicose veins and an earlier effective date for DEA benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left and right elbow conditions, left and right hip conditions, vision condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than major depressive disorder (MDD), a neck condition, a left shoulder condition, a left ankle condition, a right ankle condition, and a bilateral foot condition were remanded.