The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and for reopening his claim of entitlement to service connection for a fungal disease involving the right foot. The Board found no chronic left ankle disability in service or prior to an industrial-related injury decades after service, and concluded that any current left ankle disability is not related to service. Regarding the fungal disease claim, the Board determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that any chronic left ankle disability was incurred in or aggravated by service, as no such disability was shown during service or prior to an industrial-related injury decades after service. The Board also found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for fungal disease involving the right foot.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle disability, fungal disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 19, 2001
- Citation
- 0118833
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0118833.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has expanded the scope of the claim to include any mental health disorder raised by the record and has remanded for additional development regarding service connection for left leg, ankle, and psychiatric disabilities.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left, right ankle disabilities, left and right hip disabilities, left and right shin splints, and left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate nexus opinions in the VA examination reports. The Veteran contends that her current disabilities are related to injuries sustained during basic training.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left knee disability, tension headaches, a left ankle disability, and a back disability due to the Veteran's death.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence received, and a need for additional medical opinions considering the Veteran's military occupation as a water safety survival instructor.
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