Ankle decisions — 2026

The appellant is granted SMC(o) and SMC(r)(1) based on his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, glaucoma, foot drop conditions, sleep apnea, migraines, overactive bladder, and various musculoskeletal issues. He does not qualify for higher rates due to the anatomical loss or use of extremities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various ankle and knee disorders, as well as hypertension and sleep apnea due to a duty to assist omission regarding missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2019 VA examination reports.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2019 VA examination reports.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2019 VA medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is being remanded based on new military personnel records showing his deployment to Panama and Honduras.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports related to ankle disabilities.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports related to ankle disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination report.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher ratings in all listed service-connected disabilities before a decision on the merits was made.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle sprain residuals, left shoulder injury residuals, and bilateral pes planus due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities or any link between his military service and these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been denied due to the absence of a diagnosed condition.,Service connection is being remanded for bilateral foot, lumbar spine, knee, ankle, and elbow disabilities.

The Veteran's anxiety condition is granted a 50 percent rating, while his bilateral plantar fasciitis, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, left hip strain, and right hip strain are all denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent. The left knee strain was also denied an increased rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection, including GERD, chronic sinusitis, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, neck condition, TBI, and migraine variants. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.,Service connection was granted for bilateral pes planus on an aggravation of pre-service disability.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus.,Service connection was denied for left ankle, right ankle, and right knee disabilities.,Service connection was denied for left upper extremity and right upper extremity neuropathy.,The Veteran's pancreatitis claim is remanded.,Service connection was denied for left knee disability, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability due to an error in obtaining qualifications of VA examiners, and for providing a fully adequate medical opinion regarding causation and aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to residuals, status post-surgical reconstruction of the lateral ligaments of the left ankle. The claims for left knee and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lower back strain was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left ankle strain prior to May 22, 2025 and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter from that date was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle scar secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle sprain status post tendon repair. The increased rating claim is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions due to procedural issues, including a prohibited concurrent election of administrative review options.