The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral ankle tendonitis and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's ankle symptomatology did not meet the criteria for ankylosis or functional equivalent of ankylosis, and her combined service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- Achilles tendonitis of the right ankle, Achilles tendonitis of the left ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 3, 2025
- Citation
- 25014510
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,081 · Granted: 38% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 25014510.
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 remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU due to inadequate reasons or bases in the August 2024 decision. The case is being remanded to obtain a new VA medical opinion that considers the severity of the Veteran's right ankle disability without the ameliorative effects of medications as required by Jones, 26 Vet. App. 56, and Ingram, 38 Vet. App. 130.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's initial compensable rating for Achilles tendonitis of the right ankle was granted effective January 23, 2017. The appeal is denied prior to that date.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back and knee conditions, achilles tendonitis, and sinusitis, have precluded her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 26, 2020. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these disabilities prevented her from working.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to incomplete records and need for a VA retrospective medical opinion.
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