The veteran's right ankle fracture was not incurred in service and is not secondary to a service-connected disability. His right shoulder, knee, and hand disabilities do not warrant higher ratings.
The deciding factor: The VA medical examiner found no evidence of the right ankle fracture being caused by or aggravated by any service-connected condition. The right shoulder, knee, and hand conditions did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ankle fracture, Posterior talus chip fracture of the right ankle, Patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, Patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, Adjustment disorder with depressed mood, Right hand neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2003
- Citation
- 0309582
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 0309582.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily migraines with tension headaches, rendered him unemployable from July 25, 2023, and he is eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits starting the same date. He also qualifies for special monthly compensation based on housebound status as of October 9, 2023.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood was granted a 50 percent rating, while other claims for increased ratings were denied. Service connection for tinnitus was also granted.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from April 4, 2009, to July 9, 2015.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for revision of a March 1998 rating decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) that assigned an initial noncompensable rating for his right knee condition.
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