Ankle decisions — 2025

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased initial disability ratings, finding that the current ratings adequately reflect her service-connected conditions.

The Board remands the claims for a VA examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected scars and to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities, including left hand, foot, knee, right hand, ankle, high blood pressure, head injury, depression, and sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for depression, remanded claims for right and left ankle disabilities, a left knee disability, and bilateral hand disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) with residuals and right ankle arthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, thoracogenic scoliosis, and arthritis of the right ankle to obtain new medical opinions addressing pain and functional impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several other issues, including TDIU and special monthly compensation.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability, as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis at any time during the pendency of the claim. The claims for right ankle, left hip, and left foot disabilities were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for right and left ankle, left knee, back, and tinnitus disabilities but denied service connection for a left Achilles tendon tear and right knee disability.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left ankle sprain, effective from April 28, 2021, and confirmed this rating for the entire appeal period.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left foot arthritis was granted, while the claim for an epidermal inclusion cyst was dismissed. Other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board remands the matter for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability and to provide a retrospective opinion for the entire period on appeal.

The Board remands the case to obtain an addendum opinion addressing a discrepancy in the December 2023 VA examiner's rationale regarding the Veteran's left ankle injuries during service.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU to obtain a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability, including an assessment of whether his ankle impairment results in functional ankylosis.

The Board granted service connection for tension headaches and low back condition as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder, and granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder. Several foot and other disabilities were remanded for further evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to correct duty to assist errors, including obtaining outstanding VA and private medical records, verifying a claimed in-service stressor, and scheduling VA examinations.

The appeal was dismissed due to an impermissible concurrent election of administrative review options.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left ankle condition and a left hip condition due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, specifically the failure to provide VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for left ankle sprain and service connection for schizophrenia due to insufficient evidence of marked limitation in motion or a current diagnosis of schizophrenia, respectively.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for service-connected tension headaches and service connection for a left ankle disability, and remanded the claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for a torn left quadriceps muscle.