The VA determined that the veteran's right ankle disability, which includes a healed fracture with degenerative changes, warrants a 20 percent evaluation and is not entitled to an increased rating.
The deciding factor: The veteran's right ankle disability has been rated at its maximum under Diagnostic Code 5271 for limitation of motion of the ankle. The VA found that his condition does not warrant a higher schedular rating based on additional functional loss due to pain, weakness, or excess fatigability.
- Claimed conditions
- right ankle fracture with degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 11, 2004
- Citation
- 0403937
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,643 · Granted: 15% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0403937.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, and for increased ratings for his right ankle, elbow, and shoulder disabilities are remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and thus granting the benefit of the doubt to the Veteran. The decision also acknowledges the Veteran's current service-connected disabilities which are believed to be contributing factors to his current right hip condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination for his right ankle disability, and an explanation of any inconsistencies in previous examinations.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing, and the RO has scheduled a travel board hearing instead. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.
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