The Board granted increased evaluations for the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right ankle and a below-the-knee amputation, with the highest possible evaluation of 40% assigned for the amputation.
The deciding factor: The RO found that the veteran's disability warranted the maximum schedular rating due to his severe impairment from the below-the-knee amputation.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease of the right ankle postoperative with internal fixation, right below the knee amputation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 3, 2003
- Citation
- 0300112
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,480 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0300112.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected right below the knee amputation, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on this need.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a right below the knee amputation and any other right knee disorder, finding that there was no in-service injury or disease related to the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right below the knee amputation was denied as new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim. The claims of increased ratings for bilateral pseudophakia, left patella chondromalacia, and bronchial asthma are remanded for further examination and rating considerations. The TDIU issue is also remanded due to its inextricability with the other claims.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's right below the knee amputation is associated with his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right knee, leading to a grant of service connection.
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