Ankle decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the July 2025 decision denying service connection for various conditions, including anxiety and PTSD, hypertension, sleep apnea, right hip condition, low back disability, and bilateral ankle disability is vacated. The issues of service connection are being remanded due to failure to consider secondary theories and adjudicate an effective date prior to November 14, 2022 for the assignment of a 10 percent disability rating for left hip flexion.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability rating or service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral foot condition, sleep apnea, and right ankle condition due to the appellant's withdrawal.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, left foot gout with hallux valgus, right foot gout with hallux valgus, left wrist degenerative arthritis with gout, right wrist degenerative arthritis with gout, left ankle degenerative arthritis with gout, right ankle degenerative arthritis with gout, membranous nephropathy, hypertension, left lower extremity varicose veins, and right lower extremity varicose veins.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD and a left ankle disability were dismissed because the claims were unclear, leading to invalid appeals.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are being remanded due to procedural issues. The Board finds that the earliest possible effective date is October 24, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and DDD, right knee joint osteoarthritis, left knee joint osteoarthritis, chest disability manifested by pain, left leg disability manifested by pain, right ankle disability manifested by pain, sleep apnea, and right ear hearing loss. The claim for left ear hearing loss is denied as the Veteran does not meet the regulatory threshold for a current hearing loss disability.

Service connection is granted for a lumbar disorder and a right ankle disability.,Service connection is denied for a left ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right wrist or left ankle disabilities and there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between his service and these conditions. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has denied service connection for migraines and right shoulder strain due to lack of current diagnoses. The claims for left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities are remanded as VA examinations are needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since October 1, 2009. The Board has granted an effective earlier date of October 1, 2009 for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant eligibility.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, a bilateral ankle disability, and thyroid nodules with multinodular goiter as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain is related to his active service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the proposed discontinuance of a temporary total rating based on convalescence for right ankle tendonitis and instability status-post subtalar arthrodesis ORIF due to procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records and provide addendum medical opinions from qualified clinicians.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for various joint and headache disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports that did not consider all of the Veteran's symptomology.

Your appeal for service connection of a right ankle disability has been dismissed as it did not meet the necessary procedural requirements.

The Veteran's claims for jaw, esophageal, left hip, left ankle, right ankle, voiding, and right hip disabilities have been denied as there is no current disability found at any time during or recent to the filing of the claim.,No VA examination was obtained for these conditions. The Board finds that the post-service treatment records do not provide evidence of a diagnosed condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, and thoracolumbar spine condition are all granted as service-connected.