The Veteran's ankle and lumbar disabilities have been granted initial evaluations, with the left ankle disability receiving a 20 percent evaluation from March 30, 1999, to November 17, 1999; a 30 percent evaluation from November 17, 1999, to April 6, 2001; and a 40 percent evaluation from April 6, 2001. The right ankle disability received a 20 percent evaluation from March 30, 1999, to January 11, 2011, and a 30 percent evaluation thereafter. The lumbar disability was granted an initial 40 percent evaluation effective February 4, 2000.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's ankle disabilities have been found to meet the criteria for higher evaluations based on their severity as determined by VA rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- arthralgia of the left ankle, arthralgia of the right ankle, scoliosis and degenerative joint disease, left L6-S1 (lumbar disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 3, 2012
- Citation
- 1216006
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 1216006.
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 remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to new evidence of worsening symptoms since his last VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and restoration of a disability rating, as well as his claim for TDIU have been referred back to the AOJ due to incomplete development. The AOJ is required to consider all newly acquired evidence since the February 2016 SOC including VA treatment records added in March 2019, and readjudicate the claims.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for myositis ossificans of the right hip, arthralgia of the right ankle, and thoracolumbar spine strain were denied as her service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.
- Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining more recent medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected ankle disorders.
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.