The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for the residuals of left ankle surgery has been granted, and he is now rated at 20 percent. Additionally, a separate 10 percent rating for a painful left ankle scar has also been granted.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's left ankle disability most closely approximates the criteria for marked ankle disability, warranting the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5271. A separate 10 percent rating was assigned for a painful scar related to his service-connected residuals of left ankle surgery.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle disability, painful left ankle scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 13, 2015
- Citation
- 1506971
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 1506971.
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 expanded the scope of the claim to include any mental health disorder raised by the record and has remanded for additional development regarding service connection for left leg, ankle, and psychiatric disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left, right ankle disabilities, left and right hip disabilities, left and right shin splints, and left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate nexus opinions in the VA examination reports. The Veteran contends that her current disabilities are related to injuries sustained during basic training.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left knee disability, tension headaches, a left ankle disability, and a back disability due to the Veteran's death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence received, and a need for additional medical opinions considering the Veteran's military occupation as a water safety survival instructor.
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