The VA has determined that the veteran's left ankle degenerative joint disease, status post fusion, warrants a maximum rating of 20 percent and thus does not meet criteria for an increased rating.
The deciding factor: The objective medical evidence shows severe pain and limited motion with atrophy but no limitation of motion exceeding what is required for a 20% rating under Diagnostic Code 5271.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Left Ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 28, 2006
- Citation
- 0626999
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 0626999.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning in its August 2022 decision regarding a rating higher than 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle. The Court ordered additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.
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