The Veteran's right ankle and knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found no direct service connection for the right ankle, as there was no evidence of a chronic condition within one year post-service. For the right knee, the Board noted that while the Veteran had an in-service injury, arthritis did not manifest until after separation from service and is not related to his service-connected left knee disability.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a nexus between the current disabilities and service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ankle Arthritis, Right Knee Synovitis, Status Post Diagnostic Arthroscopy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 25, 2017
- Citation
- 1701900
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 1701900.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right tarsal tunnel syndrome prior to May 8, 2025, and granted a 20 percent rating from that date. The other claims were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for GERD and a 50 percent evaluation for cluster headaches, but denied an increased rating for right foot plantar fasciitis. The Veteran was also granted a 10 percent evaluation for external hemorrhoids effective May 19, 2024.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his right ankle disability is denied. For the entire period on appeal, a rating of 30 percent for right ankle ankylosis with tenosynovitis status post arthrodesis is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted TDIU and SMC from November 20, 2020 due to his service-connected Major Depressive Disorder. The effective date for these benefits is set as of the date he filed his VA Form 21-8940 application.
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