The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of a left ankle injury, including traumatic arthritis. However, it denied service connection for reflex sympathetic dystrophy as there is no current diagnosis.
The deciding factor: There was sufficient evidence to establish that the veteran's traumatic arthritis was incurred in service and is related to his active duty.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic arthritis, Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 10, 2004
- Citation
- 0403864
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,582 · Granted: 32% (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 0403864.
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 conditions, including traumatic arthritis and thoracolumbar spine status post fusion, have resulted in the effective loss of use of both feet. The Board has granted eligibility for financial assistance to purchase an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment due to these conditions. Additionally, the Veteran is also receiving SMC at the housebound rate based on his 100% disability rating from traumatic arthritis, thoracolumbar spine status post fusion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to incomplete evidence, including VA treatment records not being associated with his file. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and provide a new VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy.
- Granted
The Veteran's nerve damage, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and mild flexor tendonitis following cryotherapy treatment were found to be a qualifying additional disability due to the lack of proper informed consent provided by VA. As such, he is granted benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a left ankle fracture with traumatic arthritis was denied as his disability is already at the maximum schedular evaluation available.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.