The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of ankle arthritis is granted, with the earliest evidence being a May 25, 1994 VA X-ray report. The claim for TDIU is also granted.
The deciding factor: Ankle arthritis was found to be related to service-connected pes planus and has been rated since January 1986. A May 25, 1994 VA X-ray report of the right foot relates to a service-connected disability (pes planus), meeting the requirements for an earlier effective date.
- Claimed conditions
- ankle arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- May 12, 2010
- Citation
- 1017657
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 1017657.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for chronic left ankle instability, ankle arthritis, and chronically torn ligaments, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible testimony regarding his in-service injuries and continuous symptoms since separation from service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn on the issues of entitlement to service connection for ankle arthritis, gum disease, a cracked jawbone, hypertension and a skin condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his left ankle disability, which is rated at 30 percent under the provisions of Diagnostic Code 5262 (impairment of tibia and fibula), has been denied as there is no evidence of nonunion or malunion of the fibula with marked ankle disability, nor ankylosis of the ankle.
- 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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.