The Board has found that the veteran's lumbosacral spine arthritis is aggravated by his service-connected left ankle fracture, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The claim for an increased rating for the left ankle fracture remains pending as a higher rating is not granted.
The deciding factor: Medical evidence shows that the veteran's service-connected left ankle disorder has contributed to his lumbosaccaular arthritis, meeting the criteria for secondary service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral spine arthritis, left ankle fracture
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 29, 2000
- Citation
- 0005331
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 0005331.
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 appeal of whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen a claim of service connection for a left ankle fracture is dismissed. The Board will consider the Veteran's claims for service connection for a brain tumor and heart disease related to in-service exposure to commercial herbicides, PCBs, and asbestos.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, with some issues being remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left knee condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder diagnosed as somatic symptom disorder, and increased the initial rating for lumbosacral spine arthritis to 40 percent from October 22, 2020.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for left ankle fracture to obtain an adequate medical opinion.
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