The Board finds that the veteran's left ankle disability, characterized by marked limitation of motion and ankylosis in dorsiflexion between 0 and 10 degrees, warrants a higher evaluation from the current 20 percent to 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows significant functional impairment with limited range of motion and ankylosis, which aligns with the criteria for ankylosis under Diagnostic Code 5270.
- Claimed conditions
- post-traumatic arthritis of the left ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- December 28, 2004
- Citation
- 0434059
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 0434059.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left ankle instability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability and hypertension, but denied increased ratings for the left ankle disability and other forms of arthritis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left ankle disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including another VA compensation examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected post-traumatic arthritis of the left ankle is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left ankle disability, including SMC prior to January 10, 2013, was granted. He is now rated at 40 percent under Diagnostic Code 5167 effective from March 18, 2009.
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