The Board found that the Veteran's current right lower extremity disabilities, including ankle instability and posterior tibial tendonitis, are not related to her active service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease leading to these conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that there is no sufficient medical evidence linking the Veteran’s current right lower extremity disabilities to her military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right lower extremity disability, Right ankle instability, Drop foot, Posterior tibial tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20077891
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20077891.
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 Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right lower extremity disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as her eligibility for specially adapted housing. The decision also granted her eligibility for special home adaptation due to permanent total service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's right ankle disability, including instability and tendonitis, is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of marked limited motion or other significant impairment.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle instability and secondary service connection for a right ankle scar. The decision also readjudicates the claim of service connection for the right ankle scar.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for hypertension, warts, and bilateral lower extremity disabilities due to errors in creating an adequate TERA memorandum and failure to obtain a TERA nexus opinion. The VA RO is required to create a new TERA memorandum considering all possible TERAs, including those related to Persian Gulf service, asbestos exposure at Fort McClellan, and the Veteran's MOS. A new TERA nexus opinion must be obtained for each of these disabilities.
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