Board Decision Lookup › Ankle

How the Board ruled on ankle claims, 2021–2025

How the Board of Veterans' Appeals ruled on ankle service-connection claims in 2021–2025, for every theory and secondary pairing we publish. Board-appealed cases only, counted per claim. Last updated October 4, 2026.

These are past Board decisions, not a prediction for any individual case, and not legal advice. The percentage is among DECIDED cases; cases sent back to VA (remanded) are counted separately.

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Ankle (direct service connection)

Direct (began in or was caused by service), or theory not stated in the Board order

36.1% granted of 3,410 decided cases (margin of error 34.5–37.7%). 1,230 granted, 2,180 denied, 5,365 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 637 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

  • The Board gave little weight to negative VA opinions that ignored the veteran's credible account, overlooked in-service ankle treatment records, or rested only on a lack of records after service. (5 of 9 decisions read; e.g. A21002225, 22045170, 21026339)
  • The Board accepted the veteran's own competent and credible reports of an in-service ankle injury and symptoms that continued after service. (5 of 9 decisions read; e.g. A24041192, A25005496, 24015749)
  • A favorable medical opinion, private or VA, carried the claim when it was at least as persuasive as the negative opinion, so the evidence was evenly balanced or better. (4 of 9 decisions read; e.g. 22017408, A25015823, 24015749)

Common reasons in denied cases

  • The Board denied when a VA examiner gave a reasoned opinion against a link, based on the record and an accurate history, and no comparable medical opinion supported the claim. (6 of 11 decisions read; e.g. A24059810, 22055065, 21022504)
  • Some claims failed because examiners found no current ankle diagnosis and a normal ankle on examination. (3 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 24016250, 22042127, A24068947)
  • Some claims failed because no doctor linked the ankle to service, and the veteran's or family's own belief about the cause was not treated as medical evidence. (3 of 11 decisions read; e.g. A21012517, 23026886, 24015044)

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Ankle secondary to any service-connected condition

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

35.8% granted of 316 decided cases (margin of error 30.7–41.2%). 113 granted, 203 denied, 827 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 20 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

  • A negative VA opinion lost weight when it lacked the service records, gave little rationale, ignored other service-connected conditions, skipped aggravation, or never answered the secondary question. (8 of 12 decisions read; e.g. A24030561, A24066920, A21013115)
  • The Board granted when a private or treating provider explained how the service-connected condition affected the ankle, such as compensating for a knee, an abnormal gait, or instability causing a fall, after reviewing the record. (6 of 12 decisions read; e.g. A24030561, A24066920, A25038444)
  • Credible lay statements, such as a knee giving out and causing an ankle injury or pain from favoring the other ankle, and some VA examiners' own favorable opinions also supported grants. (5 of 12 decisions read; e.g. A21000726, 21072900, 24006255)

Common reasons in denied cases

  • The Board denied when a VA opinion based on medical principles found no link and any supporting opinion was conclusory or lacked a rationale. (5 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 21058969, 21042861, 21057721)
  • Several claims failed because there was no current ankle diagnosis separate from another condition, or no functional loss from the reported symptoms. (4 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 21011537, A25005724, 21030119)
  • Other claims failed because ankle problems first appeared many years after service, the veteran had denied ankle problems earlier, and the veteran's own view of the cause was not medical evidence. (4 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 21049704, A25024424, 21058969)

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Ankle secondary to knee

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

33.3% granted of 60 decided cases (margin of error 22.7–45.9%). 20 granted, 40 denied, 163 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 4 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

  • Negative VA opinions lost weight when they were conclusory, ignored altered gait from the knee, skipped aggravation, or ignored the veteran's account. (7 of 13 decisions read; e.g. 21070654, A24030561, 21072476)
  • The Board credited private or VA opinions explaining how an altered gait or a knee that gives way led to falls and ankle damage, sometimes citing medical literature. (7 of 13 decisions read; e.g. A24030561, A23015286, A21007781)
  • Consistent, credible statements about the knee giving out or walking unevenly supported the link. (4 of 13 decisions read; e.g. A21000726, 24030748, A25005627)

Common reasons in denied cases

  • No medical opinion supported the knee-to-ankle theory, and VA opinions against it went unrebutted. (5 of 11 decisions read; e.g. A25002886, 21017135, 22055083)
  • There was no current diagnosed ankle disability. (4 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 22035127, 24025422, A25013670)
  • The veteran's own belief that the knee caused the ankle condition was not competent medical evidence. (4 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 23000587, A25011454, A25002886)

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Ankle secondary to foot (flat feet / plantar fasciitis)

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

44.8% granted of 58 decided cases (margin of error 32.7–57.5%). 26 granted, 32 denied, 125 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 2 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

  • The Board granted when an opinion explained how flat feet or foot problems changed ankle mechanics or stability, reviewed the history, and often cited medical literature. (5 of 11 decisions read; e.g. A25005180, 22003328, A25012611)
  • Negative VA opinions lost weight when they called the foot and ankle separate joints without real rationale, looked only at the opposite limb, or demanded scientific consensus. (3 of 11 decisions read; e.g. A25005180, 22043093, A25012611)
  • When reasoned favorable and unfavorable opinions were equally weighted, the Board resolved the doubt for the veteran. (4 of 11 decisions read; e.g. A24046548, A25005439, A21004378)

Common reasons in denied cases

  • The Board denied when a VA opinion with a detailed review of the record and rationale found no link and was given the most weight. (5 of 13 decisions read; e.g. 21019672, 21023015, A24068899)
  • Private opinions built on an altered gait lost weight when the records or the veteran's own reports did not show an altered gait. (3 of 13 decisions read; e.g. 21010762, A25018788, A24068899)
  • The veteran's own belief about a diagnosis or its cause was not competent, and some veterans had no current ankle disability. (4 of 13 decisions read; e.g. 21023015, 21017481, 23010747)

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Ankle secondary to the other ankle

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

47.2% granted of 53 decided cases (margin of error 34.4–60.3%). 25 granted, 28 denied, 137 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 3 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

  • The Board granted when a medical opinion explained the mechanism, such as the veteran favoring or overcompensating for one leg, an unstable joint, or altered gait wearing down the other ankle. (8 of 14 decisions read; e.g. A24030561, A24017942, 22003990)
  • Private opinions outweighed VA opinions that gave too little rationale, got the facts wrong, ignored other service-connected conditions, or never addressed whether the service-connected condition worsened the ankle. (6 of 14 decisions read; e.g. A24030561, A21013115, 21048120)
  • Opinions gained weight when based on the full record and the veteran's own reported history, or written by a foot and ankle specialist or treating surgeon. (6 of 14 decisions read; e.g. 22031749, A21013115, 22003990)

Common reasons in denied cases

  • The Board denied when a thorough VA opinion, based on the record and an exam, found no link and nothing of equal weight contradicted it, often noting normal gait. (6 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 23046967, 24016056, 21001551)
  • Some claims failed because the record showed no current diagnosed ankle disability during the claim period. (3 of 11 decisions read; e.g. A24065830, 21015929, 24025422)
  • Other denials found no medical opinion linking the ankles at all, or a long gap with no ankle problems after service. (3 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 24002467, A24007620, 22036103)

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Ankle secondary to low back (lumbar spine)

Secondary (caused or worsened by a service-connected condition)

25.8% granted of 31 decided cases (margin of error 13.7–43.2%). 8 granted, 23 denied, 88 sent back to VA (remanded, not decided), 3 dismissed.

What convinced the Board in granted cases

  • The Board granted when a private opinion explained that an altered gait and overcompensation from service-connected conditions caused or worsened the ankle condition, supported by literature, record review, and the veteran's history. (2 of 3 decisions read, few decisions; e.g. A24030561, 21027059)

Common reasons in denied cases

  • A reasoned VA opinion, often addressing both cause and aggravation, went unrebutted, finding the back condition does not cause ankle problems or that weight or heavy use was more likely. (6 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 21058969, 23003712, 21042066)
  • The only link was the veteran's own belief, which is not competent medical evidence on this question. (4 of 11 decisions read; e.g. 21003066, 21042066, 21060903)
  • There was no separate current ankle disability, for example when ankle weakness was a nerve symptom already rated with the back. (2 of 11 decisions read, few decisions; e.g. 21003066, A21013030)

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Other conditions

Percentages are shown only for combinations with at least 30 decided cases (granted + denied). Named secondary pairings with 10–29 decided cases are listed as "small sample" with counts only. "ANY service-connected condition (all combined)" pools every secondary claim for that condition. Other combinations exist, but there are too few decided cases to report. Each claim is counted by the Board's ruling on that specific claim (a decision covering several issues is split by issue). Remanded = sent back to VA for more work, not decided. "What convinced the Board" summarizes a reading of up to 25 granted and 25 denied Board decisions for each claim type, with the decision numbers shown so any point can be checked. Board-appealed cases only, not regional-office decisions. Information only, not legal advice. Flat Rate Nexus is a private medical practice, not affiliated with the VA.

Source: Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions, 2021–2025. Last updated October 4, 2026. flatratenexus.com · Privacy · Terms