The veteran's left ankle arthritis is service-connected. The initial rating for PTSD with dysthymic disorder was granted, but the veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The veteran has no compensable rating for his corneal scar and no rating for his right biceps muscle rupture. Financial assistance claims were denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found degenerative changes in both ankles, confirming service-connected left ankle arthritis. The PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The veteran's corneal scar resulted in only slight disability of the biceps muscle.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Ankle Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- January 30, 2003
- Citation
- 0301908
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,374 · Granted: 19% (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 0301908.
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 residuals of TBI have been found to necessitate a higher level of aid and attendance, warranting SMC(t) from January 6, 2015.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, left knee limitation of extension, right ankle arthritis, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 29, 2016. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.
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