Ankle decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received with respect to all the service connection claims on appeal. The claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and medical opinions to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder with insomnia, right and left foot hallux valgus, and right ankle strain.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate VA examination findings and a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, including obtaining MRI findings and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's service-connected cervical strain and bilateral ankle tendonitis are alleged to be related to his current back and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's IBS, functional abdominal pain syndrome/abdominal pain, and bloating are granted with an initial noncompensable (0 percent) evaluation.,Service connection for chronic sinusitis is granted based on presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during Gulf War service.

The Veteran's appeals for reductions in disability ratings and entitlement to higher ratings have been dismissed due to the AOJ's decisions not being appealable determinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right elbow disorder was denied. The rating claims for cervical strain, thoracolumbar back strain, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right ankle inversion laxity with instability were all denied. Migraine headaches did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for left and right ankle contractures, finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left arm, right arm, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been found to have aggravated his pre-existing osteoarthritis of the hips, shoulders, ankles, and hands.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, either alone or in combination, did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his education, training, and experience for the appeal period prior to May 4, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral elbow disability, bilateral ankle disability, and skin disability due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for low back disorder with radiculopathy, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder. The Veteran's claims of these conditions are based on direct service connection without any presumption or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's GERD is related to in-service acid reflux, nausea, and GI symptoms. The left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain may be secondary to the service-connected left knee disability. Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a left leg disability (including left transtibial amputation and phantom limb syndrome with pain), and right ankle arthritis due to predecisional duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran is required to be provided VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee strain and right knee strain is denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.,The Veteran's initial rating for right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain is granted at 20 percent effective from August 1, 2022.

The Board has determined that the VA examination used to evaluate the appellant's right ankle chronic tendonitis was inadequate and remanded for a new examination. The claim is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause incapacity requiring regular aid and attendance, and the Board has granted SMC effective March 17, 2023.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and right ankle disability, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.