The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and earlier effective date for service connection of residuals of a left ankle sprain was denied. The Board found that the March 2002 denial is final, and no new evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim prior to August 6, 2009.
The deciding factor: The effective date cannot be earlier than the date of receipt of the reopened claim (August 6, 2009) as it would not arise before that date.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a left ankle sprain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 9, 2015
- Citation
- 1538371
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1538371.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The issues of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a left ankle sprain, bilateral knee conditions, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are being reviewed.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that it does not have jurisdiction over the propriety of any rating prior to September 22, 2014. The claims for increased ratings are still in appellate status and remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations considering both old and new rating criteria.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for residuals of right and left ankle sprains due to inadequate examination findings.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an increased evaluation for residuals of a left ankle sprain and service connection for a lumbar spine disorder. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion.
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