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.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral ankle strain is at least as likely as not related to an in-service fall and wearing inserts, and that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and employment history.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral ankle strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 1, 2025
- Citation
- 25004396
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 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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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