The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities are primarily manifested by symptoms of pain, swelling, weakness, and flareups resulting in moderately limited motion. The claims for higher ratings have been denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and private treatment records consistently showed moderate limitation of motion without marked limitation of motion or ankylosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative changes status post right ankle fracture, Degenerative changes of the left ankle
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 11, 2015
- Citation
- 1506308
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 1506308.
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 a 20 percent disability rating for degenerative changes of the left ankle, effective June 29, 2019. The issues regarding increased ratings and TDIU were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been rated at the maximum schedular evaluation of 20 percent each, based on marked limitation of motion. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant higher ratings.,The Veteran's left hamstring tear has not yet had a rating assigned due to lack of definitive information regarding abduction loss beyond 10 degrees. The case is being remanded for further examination and evaluation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left ankle disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's bilateral ankle disabilities. The issues of entitlement to initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for degenerative changes status post right ankle fracture and degenerative changes of the left ankle remain on appeal.
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