Ankle decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error and an issue related to toxic exposure. The claims will be reconsidered with new evidence considered.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA medical opinion on whether the Veteran's current left ankle disability is related to his active service on a direct basis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic headaches, lumbar spine disability, sleep apnea, right ankle pain, and facial-skin irritation have been granted.,Reasonable doubt has resolved in favor of the Veteran on all issues.

The Veteran's left hand strain, right knee strain, and left knee strain have been granted initial 10% ratings effective November 19, 2018.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headaches, hypertension, neck disability, right hand arthritis of fingers, left hand arthritis of fingers, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, right ankle arthritis, left ankle arthritis, and left foot arthritis of toes. The Board also remanded the issues regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.,The Board has denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and incontinence. The Board has also denied service connection for a bilateral eye disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection involving his bilateral ankles, wrists, shoulders, elbows, and knees are being remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The claims will be reconsidered with the inclusion of new evidence or clarification from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left heel condition, right heel condition, left ankle degenerative changes with arthralgia, left elbow condition, left and right plantar fasciitis, left wrist disability, and sleep disorder have been remanded for further development.,No specific rating has been assigned as the claims are currently in a 'remanded' status.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was granted service connection, but the claims for bilateral pes planus, alcohol abuse, insomnia, anxiety, and depression, and vision loss with bilateral myopia were dismissed due to untimeliness of appeals.

The Board denied service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, as well as left and right hand/finger disabilities. The Veteran's claims were based on assertions of in-service onset and secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on the claims. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle injuries, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and military service.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 15, 2013 for the Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits claims based on continuous pursuit of his claim since May 15, 2013. The effective dates are fixed in accordance with the facts found.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on the presumption that it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee tendinitis, left ankle sprain, and a right ankle pain disability have been granted. The claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is dismissed due to the absence of a decision on the issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle recurrent sprain and right knee osteoarthritis due to inadequate medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a new VA opinion to address the nature, date of initial onset, and etiology of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a left foot cold injury, migraines, and right ear hearing loss are dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left ear hearing loss is also dismissed.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle strain, left ankle strain, and bilateral knee conditions are dismissed.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar condition, bilateral hip conditions, and a right foot cold injury are remanded.

The Veteran's dizziness disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected headache disorder. The claims for insomnia, respiratory disorder, and right ankle disorder are denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is established with a grant of benefits effective February 20, 2024.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remanded the case for further development. The Veteran's sleep apnea is being reviewed again due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically right ankle arthritis with spurs and tendonitis, which may have caused obesity leading to sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied. The claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, right knee disability, and left ankle disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied.,A TDIU was granted beginning September 30, 2019.