The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic left ankle sprain, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the current condition is related to a left ankle injury sustained during active duty.
The deciding factor: The Board found the Veteran and his medical provider credible in their reports of an ankle injury sustained during service, leading to ongoing pain. The VA examiner's opinion was considered limited due to its reliance on contemporaneous medical evidence not provided by the AOJ.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic left ankle sprain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 21, 2026
- Citation
- A26005321
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 A26005321.
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 appeal for service connection for left shoulder disability was granted in full, and the issues of entitlement to a rating higher than 10 percent for right hamstring tendonitis, left elbow bursitis, chronic left ankle sprain, and low back disability were denied or dismissed.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition and denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis, while remanding the other issues.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his entire appeal, and the Board dismissed all related issues.
- Partly granted
The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed, and the Veteran's rating for chronic left ankle sprain was denied. However, a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the left ankle was granted.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.