The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of either foot or ankle, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.
The deciding factor: There was no evidence of a current disability of either foot or ankle in the VA examination report, and the examiner concluded that any ankle condition pre-existed the injury during active service.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle and foot disability, right ankle and foot disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 15, 2002
- Citation
- 0204577
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 0204577.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection of right ankle and foot disability, and right leg disability have been dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw these issues. The Board also found that a remand is needed for an examination to assess the severity of his service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood and anxiety.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the appellant's current left ankle and foot disability did not manifest in service or is otherwise etiologically related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew their appeal, thus the case is dismissed.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted an initial 50 percent rating for adjustment disorder with depression and anxiety. The issues of entitlement to a higher rating for the adjustment disorder, as well as service connection for a right ankle and foot disability, are being remanded for additional development.
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