The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that the Veteran's current condition was caused by and due to his service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: The December 2025 VA medical opinion concluded that the Veteran's left ankle strain was proximately due to or the result of his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ankle strain
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 29, 2026
- Citation
- 26001166
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 26001166.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was dismissed as a matter of law due to a full grant of benefits. The appeals for left knee and left ankle disabilities are remanded.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain and left ankle strain, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial ratings for a left ankle strain and limitation of extension and flexion of the left knee have been granted. The rating for limitation of flexion is subject to further review.
- Granted
The Veteran's left and right ankle conditions are rated at a 20 percent rating for the entire period on appeal, effective January 23, 2020.
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