The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a chronic bilateral ankle disability and granted service connection based on direct evidence showing that his current condition is related to injuries sustained during active duty.
The deciding factor: The Veteran presented credible statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms in service, which were supported by medical records documenting treatment for recurring ankle sprains. The Board found these statements sufficient to establish a nexus between the current diagnosis and service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral ankle strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 13, 2013
- Citation
- 1315621
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1315621.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, with obesity serving as an intermediary step.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder strain, bilateral ankle strain, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and back strain have been dismissed without prejudice due to the Veteran's request to withdraw these issues.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death to correct duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the decision on appeal.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral ankle strain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis but denied service connection for a left shoulder disability.
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