The veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include knee disability, ankle arthritis, and hip impairment, do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment given his education and experience.
The deciding factor: The combined evaluation of the veteran's service-connected disabilities is 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Residuals of a Fracture of the Left Tibia and Fibula with Knee Disability, Scars of the Forehead and Nose, Residuals of Lacerations and Surgery for Fractured Mandible, Maxilla and Zygoma, Traumatic Arthritis of the Right Ankle, Residuals of a Fracture of the Left Femur
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 29, 2003
- Citation
- 0325562
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 0325562.
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: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of PTSD and right ankle traumatic arthritis were dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's initial disability ratings for traumatic arthritis of the right ankle, patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis of both knees, and instability of both knees have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10% for each condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's right ankle disability has been rated at 20 percent since October 15, 2009. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5271 for limitation of motion. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation.
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