The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with secondary degenerative arthritis, thoracic spine degenerative arthritis, right ankle fracture and chronic synovitis, and left ankle degenerative arthritis.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic lumbosacral strain with secondary degenerative arthritis, Degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine, Fracture, right medial malleolus with traumatic arthritis and chronic synovitis of the right ankle, Degenerative arthritis of the left ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 8, 2005
- Citation
- 0518653
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 0518653.
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.
- Granted
The Board has determined that new evidence received after the June 2024 denial supports a finding of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle. The decision concludes that the Veteran's current disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury playing softball.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine, left hand strain, and left ankle strain due to incomplete development of the record.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, while remanding claims for muscular dystrophy and special monthly compensation.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU and DEA were granted with an effective date of November 9, 2009. The VA also determined that the Veteran is entitled to SMC.
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