The Board finds that the Veteran's current left ankle condition is not related to service or her service-connected bilateral metatarsalgia and post-operative hammertoe, left third toe. The examiner opined that the foot surgery was in a remote location from the ankle joint and could not affect it.
The deciding factor: The examiner found no anatomical relationship between the Veteran's bilateral metatarsalgia and post-operative hammertoe, left third toe and her left ankle condition, thus finding it unlikely to be caused or aggravated by these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ankle fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 31, 2014
- Citation
- 1413644
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 1413644.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination report and failure to consider the effects of medication on the Veteran's left ankle disability.
- Denied
The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for major depressive disorder, left ankle fracture, and left knee strain was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 30 percent for his major depressive disorder or an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his left ankle fracture. However, he is granted service connection for the left knee strain as secondary to his right knee strain.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a right hip condition, including need for replacement, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle fracture.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the September 21, 2005 rating decision.
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