The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability, including degenerative arthritis and Achilles tendonitis, did not have its onset in service or is otherwise related to military service.
The deciding factor: There was no evidence of a chronic left foot or ankle disability during service, and the current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis after separation from service does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to lack of continuity of symptomatology.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the left ankle, Achilles tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 1, 2016
- Citation
- 1608227
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 1608227.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has determined that new evidence received after the June 2024 denial supports a finding of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle. The decision concludes that the Veteran's current disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury playing softball.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left ankle and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, while remanding claims for muscular dystrophy and special monthly compensation.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating higher than 10 percent for Achilles tendonitis and degenerative arthritis of the right heel, stating that the condition does not result in marked limitation of motion.
- Partly granted
The Board has granted initial disability ratings of 10 percent for bilateral Achilles tendonitis prior to April 12, 2024. Beginning on that date, the Veteran's entitlement to a higher rating is in relative equipoise with the evidence supporting such.
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