Ankle decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings are denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted with an effective date of February 2, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to January 25, 2014 due to lack of evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the cases due to conflicting medical evidence regarding functional ankylosis of the Veteran's left and right ankles, as well as issues related to shin splints in both lower extremities. The cases are being returned for further review.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle achilles tendon disorder on a secondary basis to his service-connected back and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right ankle osteoarthritis with tendonitis and sprain was granted a 20 percent rating prior to May 15, 2025.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring further development for an additional VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right ankle tendonitis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ankle, knee, and lower leg scars have been granted as they are considered to be directly related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's depression, generalized anxiety and insomnia were granted service connection as a direct result of her service. The right ankle sprain was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. Hypertension and hypothyroidism are both remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to incomplete development of her claims, particularly regarding her bilateral plantar fasciitis and other orthopedic conditions. The AOJ is required to conduct further examinations and obtain medical opinions to address these issues.

The Veteran's residuals of a left ankle fracture are rated at 20 percent disabling since May 22, 2014, which is the maximum schedular rating for limited motion of the ankle.

The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for various left forearm and ankle conditions. The Board has found the VA examination reports inadequate to rate these disabilities, necessitating remand.,The right ankle strain claim is also remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports.

The Veteran's service-connected basal cell carcinoma/actinic keratosis does not require therapy comparable to systemic malignancies and is currently rated at 0 percent.,The maximum schedular rating for tinnitus (10%) has already been assigned. The Veteran cannot be granted a higher rating based on this condition alone.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's shortness of breath or COPD are related to his service, including due to in-service participation in a toxic-risk exposure activity (TERA).,The Veteran's COPD does not appear to be linked to his service. The issue remains remanded as there may be additional information needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left leg disabilities, as well as a left ankle disability, all secondary to bilateral hip, knee, and right ankle disabilities. The case is being returned for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for neck, right ankle, and left ankle disorders due to lack of evidence showing their onset within one year of service or causation by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated at 40 percent from August 23, 2010 to December 29, 2019.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating or service connection in all cases.

The Veteran's requests for increased ratings for his ankle and thoracolumbar spine disabilities were denied. The left and right ankle disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, while the thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to October 27, 2016, and 40 percent effective June 1, 2017.

The Veteran's right and left ankle tendonitis with Achilles' tendon rupture are granted effective January 7, 2014.,No earlier date is available for these conditions as the claim was filed within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's left ankle scars are currently assigned a noncompensable evaluation, and the appeal for an initial compensable evaluation is denied.,The effective dates for service connection of right knee disorder and left ankle scar, low back disorder, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all denied as they cannot be earlier than May 12, 2014.