The Board granted a separate 20 percent rating for left ankle instability and service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and general anxiety disorder (GAD) as secondary to the TBI, while denying an increased rating for the lateral collateral ligament sprain left.
The deciding factor: The evidence of record supported the grant of a separate 20 percent rating for left ankle instability due to persistent instability requiring use of a brace, and service connection for TBI and GAD as secondary to the in-service traumatic event that caused both conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- lateral collateral ligament sprain left, traumatic brain injury (TBI), general anxiety disorder (GAD)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25035506
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, right wrist strain, and TBI. The Veteran's PTSD rating was remanded for further development.
- Dismissed
The veteran's appeal requests for service connection and increased ratings were denied due to untimeliness, as the appeals were not filed within one year of the respective rating decisions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral plantar fasciitis, chronic pain syndrome, sciatic radicular pain of both legs, traumatic brain injury (TBI), shin splints of both legs, thoracic spondylosis, right shoulder strain, right wrist strain, acne, and allergic rhinitis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the service connection claim for a traumatic brain injury to ensure that VA's duty to assist is followed and that the Veteran is afforded every possible consideration.
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