The Board found that the veteran's left ankle infection and nerve entrapment were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error. The events were considered reasonably foreseeable.
The deciding factor: A VA medical opinion concluded there was no evidence of fault on the part of the VA in this case.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle infection, nerve entrapment
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 20, 2008
- Citation
- 0805697
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 0805697.
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: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia has been remanded.,Claims for service connection for hypertension, right great toe arthritis, bilateral pes valgo planus/fallen arches, bilateral gastrocnemius equinus, and nerve entrapment have also been remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for right great toe disability, bilateral gastrocnemius equinus, bilateral pes valgo planus, functional hallux limitus, and nerve entrapment. However, these conditions are not considered service-connected as they were not shown to be related to military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's current symptoms, including pain and need for a cane, were not due to carelessness or negligence on the part of VA during his left ankle surgery. The preexisting nerve entrapment condition was deemed unrelated to the surgical treatment.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected right foot disorder, effective from November 30, 2001.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.