Service connection has been granted for post-traumatic degenerative arthritis of the right ankle and lumbar spine chronic muscular strain. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings and an earlier effective date for these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service connection claims were previously denied in March 1950, but he did not appeal that decision. He subsequently requested service connection for his back disability on June 7, 2001, which was received by VA on June 12, 2001.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-traumatic degenerative arthritis of the right ankle with ligament laxity, Lumbar spine chronic muscular strain superimposed on degenerative instability, Vertebral body fracture at L1
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 7, 2009
- Citation
- 0912889
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 0912889.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
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