The Board denied increased disability evaluations for DJD of the right and left ankles, both currently rated at 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show ankylosis or other factors warranting higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the right ankle, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 19, 2006
- Citation
- 0629735
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,377 · Granted: 17% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0629735.
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 denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the right ankle, generalized anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that remand is necessary to obtain new medical opinions regarding the service connection of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, as they are related to his service-connected left ankle disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and need for a new VA opinion regarding service connection for gout, including of the right big toe, as secondary to service-connected degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the right ankle.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disorders, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and DJD of multiple joints, as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The VA is instructed to obtain updated treatment records from private physicians R. M. and R. R.
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.