Ankle decisions — 2026

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and right ankle tendonitis are granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for diverticulosis and a right ankle disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral foot disabilities and a right ankle disability due to inadequate consideration of an in-service leg injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for a higher disability rating for his left ankle disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle condition as there was no current diagnosis of such disability during the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, foot disabilities, shoulder, ankle, hip, knee, and multi-joint arthritis. The Board also granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD with substance use disorder, severe.

The Veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances for topical medications Urea 20% cream and Clobetasol propionate were denied as the evidence did not show that he used these medications for a service-connected skin condition.,The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance for Diclofenac was denied because it is not prescribed for a service-connected skin disability, but rather for muscle pain related to his musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various knee, back, hand, and ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and right shoulder disorders due to a lack of adequate medical opinions in the November 2020 VA examinations. The Veteran is requested to undergo further examination to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for substance abuse, bilateral hearing loss, memory loss, bilateral ankle condition, bilateral feet condition, pes planus, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship with service. The appeals were dismissed as untimely.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left foot calcaneal plantar spur, right ankle ligament sprain, recurrent bilateral ear infections, chronic headaches, and erectile dysfunction (ED).,There is no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions. The appellant's STRs are silent for complaints or treatment related to these issues.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the complexity of the issues.,The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for various disabilities, including bilateral plantar fasciitis, a surgical scar, cervical spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, left hip disability, right knee disability, psychiatric disability, right ankle and left ankle disabilities, gastrointestinal disability, vocal cord dysfunction, sinusitis, tinea, and facial acne.

The Veteran's right ankle strain and lumbar spine spondylosis were evaluated, but the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,VA denied both claims of increased evaluations.

The Board has denied service connection for left ankle pain and remanded the issue of entitlement to asthma. The decision is binding only with respect to the specific matters decided.

The Board has found that the Veteran's lower lumbar pain, left eye retinal scarring and loss of vision, right ankle bone spurs, left ankle bone spurs, and left wrist surgery are not adequately addressed due to a lack of VA medical examinations. The Board is therefore remanding these issues for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The issues of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a left ankle sprain, bilateral knee conditions, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are being reviewed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed as he withdrew his appeal with respect to all the issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a predecisional duty to assist error, requiring further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral ankle condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining relevant medical records and conducting adequate VA examinations.