The veteran's left ankle disability was not found to be service-connected. The initial rating for his low back disability from November 7, 2002, to October 3, 2006, was granted at a 20 percent rating and remains unchanged. From October 4, 2006, the veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the veteran's current left ankle disability is not related to his military service. For the low back disability, the VA examiner provided an opinion supporting a finding of moderate incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve, warranting a 20% rating from November 7, 2002, to October 3, 2006, and a 40% rating thereafter.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle disability, low back disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 20, 2007
- Citation
- 0725955
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 0725955.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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 expanded the scope of the claim to include any mental health disorder raised by the record and has remanded for additional development regarding service connection for left leg, ankle, and psychiatric disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that remand is needed for the Veteran's claims due to duty to assist errors, including clarification of periods of service and obtaining relevant records. The Veteran will be afforded new medical examinations for each claimed disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left, right ankle disabilities, left and right hip disabilities, left and right shin splints, and left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate nexus opinions in the VA examination reports. The Veteran contends that her current disabilities are related to injuries sustained during basic training.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left knee disability, tension headaches, a left ankle disability, and a back disability due to the Veteran's death.
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