The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the ankles results in occasional incapacitating exacerbations, warranting a disability rating of 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's osteoarthritis occasionally resulted in falls and provided objective evidence of pain on motion without additional loss of function or range of motion after repetitive use testing.
- Claimed conditions
- osteoarthritis of the ankles
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 21, 2017
- Citation
- 1723311
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 1723311.
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 remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between current osteoarthritis and service. The Veteran's active service is believed to have caused joint pain shortly after service, but there are missing records that need to be reviewed by a clinician.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evidentiary development, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected ankle disability.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to military noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. The issue of secondary service connection for osteoarthritis of the neck, back, fingers, knees, and ankles due to rheumatoid arthritis remains unresolved.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the ankles, knees, lumbar spine and shoulders as not related to service or an undiagnosed illness.
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