The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for her right ankle disability, finding that she does not have ankylosis and her disability is functionally equivalent to amputation with a prosthetic.
The deciding factor: The VA found that the veteran has marked limitation of motion but no ankylosis, which would warrant a 20% rating under DC 5271. She also receives a separate 20% rating for RDS (reflex sympathetic dystrophy), resulting in a combined 36% rating for her lower right extremity.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ankle injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 22, 2007
- Citation
- 0718968
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 0718968.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right ankle disability was dismissed because his Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was not filed within the one-year deadline and he did not request an extension. The Board found that the NOD was untimely.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle injuries, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and military service.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle injury and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no credible evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.
- Granted
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claim of service connection for right ankle injury, which was previously denied. The case is being remanded for further consideration by the AOJ.
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