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 assigned
- 50%
- 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0325562.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of PTSD and right ankle traumatic arthritis were dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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