The Board denied an initial rating greater than 10 percent for left Achilles tendonitis based on limitation of motion from May 20, 2013 to April 19, 2018 and an initial rating greater than 20 percent for a left ankle condition based on limitation of motion from April 20, 2018 onward. However, the Board granted a separate initial disability rating of 20 percent for left ankle instability and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the lack of evidence showing marked limitation of motion or ankylosis during the relevant periods, as well as the Veteran not meeting DSM-5 criteria for a current mental health diagnosis.
- Claimed conditions
- left Achilles tendonitis (left ankle condition), acquired psychiatric condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 11, 2025
- Citation
- 25007842
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,934 · Granted: 41% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 25007842.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for a genitourinary condition and an acquired psychiatric condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and right hip pain as they have been fully granted in a prior rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric condition. The claim will be reconsidered with a medical opinion.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection for acquired psychiatric condition and secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome by way of obesity have been withdrawn. The Board has granted the secondary service connection claim.
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