Ankle decisions — 2026

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including a heart disorder, arthritis of the right big toe, PTSD, erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD, plantar fasciitis, and a right ankle disorder. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the right knee condition.

The Board has reopened the service connection claims for residuals of lumbar strain, right shoulder strain, right wrist strain, bilateral ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease, and sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD. The new evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance is not due to his service-connected disabilities, but rather to nonservice-connected disabilities. The Board denies the claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has decided that the Veteran is eligible to receive past-due benefits awarded in a February 6, 2025 rating decision. However, due to an error in not documenting these past-due benefits, the case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's left ankle surgery from November 7, 2019 to January 30, 2020 resulted in severe postoperative residuals and required convalescence. The Board granted a temporary total disability rating for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for various hip, ankle, and knee conditions. However, the Veteran did not appeal these decisions to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC), so the claims are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for left knee and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's symptoms, including pain and flare-ups, need to be addressed in a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for ED was denied as there is no current disability.,Right carpal tunnel syndrome was denied due to insufficient evidence linking it to the TERA exposure.,Left carpal tunnel syndrome was denied as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.,Right ankle sprain and left foot pes planus were both denied because there is no current disability.,Right foot pes planus was denied due to lack of evidence.,Non-diabetic neuropathy of the right upper extremity was denied as it is currently diagnosed as right carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for service connection and remanded the initial increased ratings for hypertension, ischemic stroke (including separate ratings for left-sided hemiparesis), left ankle residual of fracture, wet macular degeneration, left arm spasticity, right leg edema, and left leg edema.,The claims are being remanded to determine appropriate initial ratings given the earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's left and right ankle disabilities are rated at 10% each, while his left knee disability is also rated at 10%. The Veteran's service connection claim for left knee instability was denied. No new evidence or reopened claims were presented.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a head injury, dizziness disorder, dental disorder, and an increased evaluation for left ankle disability have been dismissed. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for right toe disability remains on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ankle, right ankle, left knee, right knee, and right hip conditions as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for a left foot condition, claimed as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of SMC at the intermediate rate. The rating for left knee flexion limitation is granted, as well as instability ratings for the left knee. Tinnitus remains rated at 10 percent. Service connection claims related to a left ear condition, depressive disorder with anxiety, left shoulder impingement syndrome, and migraine headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle disability, rhinitis, and dermatophytosis were all granted. The rating for the left ankle was restored to 30 percent, while ratings for rhinitis and dermatophytosis were also restored.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 4, 2019 for the Veteran's scar (back surgery residuals). The remaining claims are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle injury and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no credible evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis, eye/vision disability, head injury, left ankle and right ankle disabilities, left knee and right knee disabilities, mid/lower back disability, and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service.,Service connection for ED as secondary to PTSD was granted.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries. The Veteran's statements regarding continued symptoms after service were found not credible.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a neck disorder and bilateral ankle, elbow, hip, shoulder, wrist, upper or lower extremity neuropathy disorders, are denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating of his right ankle disability, as well as the compensability of his scars, have been dismissed due to non-jurisdictional procedural defects.