The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral ankle strain and bilateral foot osteoarthritis, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected knee disorders due to cold exposure in service.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence supports the conclusion that the Veteran's current bilateral ankle and foot conditions are more likely than not caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee disorders, particularly given his history of cold exposure during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral ankle strain, Bilateral foot osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20060604
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 20060604.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, sinusitis, and sleep apnea but granted service connection for bilateral ankle strain and bilateral knee strain. The claims for increased ratings were also denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral ankle strain and TDIU were granted based on the evidence supporting a direct connection to service and unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a lower back disability, left knee strain, bilateral ankle strain, right lower extremity sciatica, and PTSD based on military sexual trauma.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress and traumatic brain injury has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since January 2022, qualifying for a TDIU. Additionally, the Veteran is in receipt of SMC at the housebound rate due to additional service-connected disabilities. The claim for bilateral pes planus remains pending as it involves duty to assist errors.
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