The Board denied service connection for a right ankle/foot disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of a right ankle strain and calcaneal spur did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of evidence of arthritis within one year of separation. The VA examiners opined against the claim based on the absence of medical evidence supporting a fracture in service and no further complaints or diagnoses related to the right foot or ankle until 34 years after separation.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was insufficient medical evidence to support a direct service connection due to lack of arthritis within one year of separation, and the VA examiners' opinions were considered more persuasive than the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service injury.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ankle/foot disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 31, 2022
- Citation
- 22031767
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 22031767.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right and left ankle/foot disabilities, as well as left and right knee disabilities, all secondary to a service-connected back disability. The VA needs to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle/foot disability and awarded an individual compensation rating of 10% for scars of the left cheek, right temple, and/or right eyebrow.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right ankle and foot disability was ultimately assigned a temporary total evaluation of 100 percent from January 5, 2010, through March 31, 2010, and an evaluation of 10 percent for the period of April 1, 2010, to November 29, 2010. The temporary total evaluation was extended to 100 percent since November 30, 2010, through December 31, 2010, and an evaluation of 20 percent since January 1, 2011.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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