Ankle decisions — 2026

The appeal of the issues related to eczema and acne, carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine disability, shoulder disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, gastritis and GERD with hiatal hernia, and sleep disturbances have been dismissed.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee pain with shin splints is denied. A rating of 10 percent, and no higher, for left leg shin splints is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board finds that tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, anxiety disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and right knee disability are related to active service. The remaining issues remain pending.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle conditions must be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left hip condition is being remanded for further evaluation due to insufficient opinions regarding its relationship to his service-connected disabilities, particularly his left ankle and back conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided were inadequate and remands are required to obtain medical opinions with sufficient detail and rationale, so the Board's evaluation of the claimed disabilities can be a fully informed one.

The Veteran's entitlement to Chapter 33 educational assistance benefits is established, but he does not meet the requirements for a 100% benefit level due to his discharge being from active duty for reasons other than service-connected disability.

The Board has denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, right ankle strain, and mild right foot retrocalcaneal spur as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to the current disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, is service-connected.,The Veteran's chronic gastritis is service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral ankle degenerative joint disease is service-connected.,The Veteran's cervical spine condition to include strain and pain is service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral hip degenerative joint disease is service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral foot degenerative joint disease is service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral shoulder degenerative joint disease is service-connected.,The Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for any of the claimed conditions and thus, service connection is denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right shoulder disability. Service connection is granted for OSA, left ankle, lumbar spine, and right hip disabilities. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and coronary artery disease are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle sprains due to an error in associating VA treatment records with her file, a duty-to-assist error regarding proper notice of the scheduled examination, and potential errors in satisfying regulatory or statutory duties.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for chronic left ankle sprain, right ankle strain, and thoracolumbar strain are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in the prior examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance, which grants entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation at a housebound rate is moot due to the grant of aid and attendance.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen previously denied service connection claims for various joint conditions, including right ankle arthritis, left ankle arthritis, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis. The skin condition claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sleep apnea, asthma, and right lung granulomatous disease have been dismissed. The Veteran's bilateral hip disability, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome have been granted.,The Veteran's bilateral hand arthritis has also been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle tendonitis due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in the April 2021 medical opinion. The case is being returned to the AOJ for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral knee, ankle, and foot disorders are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to military service.,Service connection for a respiratory disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction, ankle, elbow, hip, knee, shoulder, wrist, and back disabilities due to incomplete VA opinions. The Veteran is requested to undergo further examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, tinnitus, left knee disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability are all found to have onset during service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.