Ankle decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle condition is etiologically related to service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted restoration of the Veteran's ratings for his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities from 30% to 10%, effective November 1, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on several issues, including right ankle sprain and lumbosacral strain, has been remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability is related to service and granted his claim for residuals of left ankle fracture.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of January 21, 2015 for the Veteran's claims related to his right thumb, left thumb, right index finger, left index finger, right long finger, and left long finger. The Board also granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or permanent loss of use of a hand or foot, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ankylosis of one or both knees or hips, or permanent impairment of vision. Therefore, the criteria for financial assistance in the purchase of one automobile or other conveyance with necessary automotive adaptive equipment are not met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mental health disorders and physical conditions like ankle strains and allergic rhinitis, do not result in functional impairment that precludes him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the June 2016 rating decision was not received, and therefore the February 2018 notice of disagreement (NOD) filed thereto is considered timely. The appeal pertains to service connection for right ankle, right shoulder, and neck disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for her service-connected left ankle disability is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The claims for service connection on all listed conditions are not before the Board.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the claim for service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture. The claim is now remanded for further action.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right and left ankle lateral collateral ligament (LCL) sprains due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The AOJ obtained an inadequate VA medical opinion, which is now being corrected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, hypertension, and left ankle ankylosis have been denied as there is no evidence of a qualifying additional disability due to VA care or treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to aggravation during active duty. The Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by his military duties.

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection related to various conditions should be remanded due to a failure by the AOJ to provide proper notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing on a supplemental claim.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to a lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot drop as secondary to the service-connected lumbosacral spine condition. The claims for right ankle, right knee, and left knee conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at a minimum of 10 percent, and the Board finds that she meets the criteria for this rating. The TDIU claim was denied as her service-connected disabilities do not render her incapable of securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left and right ankle disabilities are rated at 20 percent each since April 27, 2021. The effective date for these ratings is set to that date.