The Board found that the veteran's right ankle disability is manifested by daily pain and occasional swelling, functional impairment due to pain, limited dorsiflexion to 10 degrees, and limited plantar flexion to 35 degrees. The RO originally granted service connection for residuals of right ankle injury in September 1963, assigning a 10 percent rating effective July 10, 1963. In August 2002, the RO assigned an increased rating of 20 percent for the right ankle, effective April 17, 2002. The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent was denied.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not show any signs of ankylosis or malunion of the os calcis or astragalus, and none of the remaining diagnostic codes pertaining to the ankle apply. The medical evidence also does not show any malunion of the os calcis or astragalus or astragalectomy.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ankle Injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 11, 2007
- Citation
- 0714018
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 0714018.
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- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone is found to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the statutory housebound criteria.
- Granted
The Veteran's request for a restoration of a 20% rating for his right ankle injury, to include degenerative changes, as of July 1, 2010, is granted. A rating in excess of 20% for the same condition remains denied.
- Granted
The Veteran was found to be unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities from November 1, 2010 through June 6, 2012. The Board granted a TDIU for this period based on the combined disability rating of at least 70%.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, right ankle injury, hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU).
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