The Board denied increased ratings for the service-connected left ankle and foot disabilities, finding that the current ratings adequately reflect the veteran's disability levels.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no additional range of motion or strength in the affected joints, limiting the veteran's ability to work due to pain and swelling.
- Claimed conditions
- postoperative status, arthrodesis, status post traumatic arthritis of the left tibial talar joint, postoperative status, surgical repair of the extensor hallucis longus, left foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 14, 2002
- Citation
- 0204488
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0204488.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted increased ratings of 30 percent for the service-connected postoperative status, surgical repair of the extensor hallucis longus, left foot, and a 30 percent rating for the service-connected postoperative status, arthrodesis, status posttraumatic arthritis of the left tibial talar joint.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of his medical records.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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