Ankle decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for brucellosis and related secondary conditions must be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the initial rating decisions. The Veteran was exposed to Southwest Asia during his military service, but the medical opinion provided did not adequately address this exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a cervical spine disorder is dismissed. The VA has already granted this benefit in an earlier decision, and the issue is moot.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and right thumb disabilities, finding that new evidence supports these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left shoulder and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including the need for additional medical opinions regarding functional loss and ameliorative effects of medications.

The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any ankle or knee conditions during his active duty. The Veteran has provided no medical evidence of current diagnoses for these conditions.,There is conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee condition, with a private treatment record noting pain after a fall in 2017 and other records indicating no prior symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to December 12, 2023 was denied. The reduction in disability ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from 20% to 10% were found not proper and restored the original ratings.

The Veteran's left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with degenerative arthritis is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by instability and early arthritis, is granted a 20% evaluation from December 29, 2017 to February 17, 2021, and full rating (100%) from April 1, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed respiratory, shoulder, and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran is granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance at the 38 U.S.C. � 1114(n 1/2) rate, but no higher, prior to January 25, 2019 and from March 1, 2019, due to his service-connected depressive disorder alone causing him to be in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded several issues for further evaluation, including right ankle traumatic arthritis, left foot fibromatosis, both right and left foot hypertrophic scars, migraine headaches, lumbosacral strain, and chronic cough.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury, residuals of a left knee injury, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's initial ratings for a left ankle strain and limitation of extension and flexion of the left knee have been granted. The rating for limitation of flexion is subject to further review.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury, residuals of a left knee injury, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the right ankle sprain with instability has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has granted eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a June 2024 rating decision, which included service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and a left ankle disability. The initial denial of these conditions was made in December 2009.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition, left knee condition, and right ankle condition due to outstanding private treatment records and conflicting opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to a deficiency in the record prior to the decision on appeal. The Veteran's depression claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her bilateral foot disabilities was denied, with the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent being assigned. The claim for increased rating of her left ankle achilles tendonitis disability was also denied.,The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the left ankle achilles tendonitis due to moderate limited motion (less than 15 degrees dorsiflexion or less than 30 degrees plantar flexion). The Veteran's knee disorder secondary to her service-connected foot disabilities was also remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, headaches, left knee disorder, and right ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence or further clarification is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities due to new evidence submitted during the appeal period. The issues are being returned to the Board for further development.