The VA has denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for low back strain and service connection for residuals of a right ankle fracture. The initial rating for low back strain is set at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not demonstrate that the veteran had current disability due to his right ankle injury during service, and there was no indication of any new or material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back strain, Residuals, right ankle fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 8, 2002
- Citation
- 0203146
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 0203146.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an increased rating for low back strain to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including the side effects of medication taken to treat his back disability, precluded substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), pain of cervical and cervicothoracic regions, radicular pain and hypoesthesia of left upper extremity, pain and dysfunction of lumbar spine, right sciatic radicular pain, left sciatic radicular pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, post traumatic residual pain of right foot, and bilateral hearing loss.
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for herpes simplex, allergic rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, right ankle fracture, and left varicocele.
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