The veteran's low back syndrome and right ankle fracture with limitation of motion have been granted increased evaluations, but the service-connected right ankle disorder remains at a 20% evaluation.
The deciding factor: The veteran's low back syndrome was found to meet criteria for a 20% rating since May 21, 1993. The right ankle disorder has not met criteria for an increase in evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Low back syndrome, Right ankle fracture with limitation of motion
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- July 24, 2003
- Citation
- 0317254
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 0317254.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a retrospective VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's current disability levels and functional loss from 1979 to present. The issues include increased ratings for low back syndrome, postoperative reconstruction of the left knee, chondromalacia of the right knee, and limitation of extension of the right knee.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent prior to April 10, 2017 and granted a 40 percent rating from that date.,Separate ratings of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy are granted prior to April 10, 2017 and thereafter; and a separate 10 percent evaluation is granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's low back disability, including any degenerative arthritis. The examiner is asked to address whether there is radiculopathy related to the lumbar spine disability and determine if it is due to a cervical spine disorder instead. Additionally, the examiner should evaluate whether the service-connected low back syndrome caused or aggravated any other lumbar spine disorders (other than low back syndrome).
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a 10 percent rating for low back syndrome, as the Veteran's claim was filed within one year of his discharge from active duty.
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