Ankle decisions — 2026

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is found to have originated in service and continues today, warranting service connection.,The Veteran's left ankle disorder was first noted during active duty and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease and right ankle osteoarthritis, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's headaches, thoracolumbar spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability are all granted as service-connected.,All issues related to the Veteran's claimed disabilities have been resolved in his favor.

The Board has granted an initial 40 percent rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability, finding that his symptoms more nearly approximated ankylosis in dorsiflexion at more than 10 degrees during flare-ups and after repetitive use over time.

The Board has determined that there were duty to assist errors in obtaining VA treatment records and medical opinions for the Veteran's left shoulder, neck, and left elbow issues. The claims are being remanded to correct these errors.

Service connection is granted for urethral stricture condition, left foot plantar fasciitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left ankle condition as secondary to service-connected left knee condition.,Service connection is remanded for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and erectile dysfunction due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an initial compensable rating for a left ankle scar due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral ankle disability, bilateral knee disability, left foot disability, and fractures of the right foot bones. The claims will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hip and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient opinions regarding secondary service connection through obesity as an intermediate step.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address possible evidence of left knee instability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 9, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and neck/cervical spine disabilities based on evidence in approximate balance showing a causal relationship between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a left ankle disability was dismissed due to a procedural defect. The Board improperly docketed the appeal and did not receive clarification from the Veteran within the required time frame.

The Board has remanded the claims for right ankle condition and lumbar spine condition due to inadequate examinations, and TDIU claim due to lack of authorization for chiropractor records.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain is currently rated at 10%. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to the lack of evidence showing marked limited motion or ankylosis.,Service connection for cervical spine disability and bilateral hand disability are remanded as there was a duty-to-assist error prior to the January 2025 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle pain condition as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. However, the claim for a right ankle scar disability was denied.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted an initial 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, but granted service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's right ankle disability prior to March 24, 2021, was rated at 10 percent and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board dismissed all claims for service connection as the AOJ had not yet issued a decision on these issues.