The Veteran's initial rating for left ankle instability was denied as the evidence did not support a higher than 10 percent evaluation.
The deciding factor: Throughout the appeal, the Veteran has had no more than slight instability of the left ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease, which does not warrant a higher rating under applicable criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 27, 2009
- Citation
- 0911374
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left ankle instability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability and hypertension, but denied increased ratings for the left ankle disability and other forms of arthritis.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the current left ankle disability is etiologically related to the service-connected left foot plantar fasciitis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent rating for left ankle osteoarthritis from June 25, 2021, and a separate 10 percent rating for left ankle instability.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 5, 2010, for service connection for right and left ankle tendonitis and instability.
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