The veteran's claim for an increase in a 20 percent rating for his right ankle disability is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support the need for a higher rating as the current 20% rating already reflects marked limitation of motion, and there is no indication that the ankle is ankylosed or that muscle atrophy results in impairment beyond what is already accounted for by the right ankle disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ankle Arthritis, Muscle Atrophy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 29, 2000
- Citation
- 0005301
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 0005301.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for hypertension was dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction. The appeals for service connection for anxiety and depression, and muscle atrophy were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right tarsal tunnel syndrome prior to May 8, 2025, and granted a 20 percent rating from that date. The other claims were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for GERD and a 50 percent evaluation for cluster headaches, but denied an increased rating for right foot plantar fasciitis. The Veteran was also granted a 10 percent evaluation for external hemorrhoids effective May 19, 2024.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his right ankle disability is denied. For the entire period on appeal, a rating of 30 percent for right ankle ankylosis with tenosynovitis status post arthrodesis is granted.
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