Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for a right ankle condition, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The claims for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of feet and hands were denied.

The Board granted the appellant's eligibility for direct payment of attorney fees based on an earlier effective date for right ankle disability, but denied it for back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for various disorders, including shoulder, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, wrist, and ankle conditions, due to deficiencies in prior VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety, and the claims for service connection and higher ratings were dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including thoracolumbar strain, cervical strain, and others. The claims were not granted.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining issues, including various psychiatric disorders, middle back injury, ankle disabilities, knee disabilities, neuropathies, hearing loss, and headaches.

The Board denied service connection for a broken nose, deviated septum, low back disability, left foot numbness, right foot numbness, sinus disability, left elbow and forearm disability, left knee disability, and right shoulder strain. Service connection was granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and left hamstring strain. The Board also denied an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder with residuals of a traumatic brain injury, an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches, an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for fibromyalgia, and an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea. The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as a result of service-connected disabilities prior to December 1, 2023.

The Board denied an increased initial rating for right ankle degenerative arthritis but granted a separate 20 percent rating for right ankle instability, and denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and denied higher ratings for the Veteran's right ankle, left upper extremity scar, right upper extremity scar, and posterior trunk scar.

The Board granted service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the hands, feet, and left ankle based on a nexus to in-service injuries.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's functional impairment of the right hip and right ankle, finding that these conditions incepted during his service.

The Board granted service connection for left wrist, left ankle, and tender and painful scars on the left shin and right ankle. The issues of increased ratings and earlier effective dates for certain conditions were dismissed or remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right hip and right ankle disabilities to obtain a more complete VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and back conditions as they were not caused by or due to an event or injury in service. The LUE radiculopathy claim was remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory disorder, right ankle sprain with shin splints, and left knee strain with shin splints.

The appeal for service connection for right ankle disorder was withdrawn by the Veteran and therefore dismissed.

The appeals for service connection for a left ankle sprain and migraines have been withdrawn and dismissed by the Veteran.

The appeals for service connection for a left ankle sprain and migraines have been withdrawn and dismissed by the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for left and right knee disorders but denied service connection for a low back disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and headache disorder.

The appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran, and therefore, no issues remain for appellate consideration.