The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right tibia and fibula fracture residuals, finding that the disability is primarily manifested by pain, swelling, and limited motion of the ankle. The current evaluation of 20% is considered appropriate given the moderate impairment.
The deciding factor: The range of motion in the right ankle was found to be between 10 degrees dorsal flexion and 30 degrees plantar flexion, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on marked disability or ankylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- fractured right tibia and fibula, post-traumatic osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 20, 2004
- Citation
- 0423042
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 0423042.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as there was no evidence of a current disability during the period on appeal. The claims for sleep disorder, to include sleep apnea, and schizoaffective disorder were remanded.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claim for a higher rating for left knee disability was denied, but a separate 10% rating for left knee instability was granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for an eating disorder, fatigue (secondary to PTSD), foot pain, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, and a right shoulder condition are denied. The Board has remanded the cases due to duty-to-assist errors.,The Veteran's claims of residuals from a back injury, right hip disability including femoral acetabular impingement syndrome and tendinitis, left hip condition, and right ankle disability (including lateral collateral ligament sprain) are also being remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic osteoarthritis as there is no current diagnosis of arthritis in the Veteran's medical records.
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.