The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine is granted service connection and rated at 30 percent. The left ankle fracture status post fusion prior to July 11, 2014, is also granted service connection and rated at 30 percent. Since July 11, 2014, the Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine was found to be related to his service-connected left ankle fracture residuals and granted service connection based on direct evidence. The left ankle fracture status post fusion prior to July 11, 2014, resulted in ankylosis at dorsiflexion between 0 and 10 degrees, warranting a 30 percent evaluation. Since July 11, 2014, the Veteran's disability has been rated based on ankylosis of the subastragalar or tarsal joint in poor weight-bearing position.
- Claimed conditions
- Osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, Cervical spine disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- August 28, 2018
- Citation
- 18129999
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 18129999.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between his current condition and his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and psychiatric disorder due to incomplete information. The Veteran needs to provide his complete service personnel records, verify his alleged combat experience in Vietnam, and undergo VA examinations for both conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the initial ratings assigned for psoriatic arthritis of the upper and lower extremities, as well as service connection for a cervical spine disorder, need to be remanded due to incomplete evidence. The Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ADT) and inactive duty for training (IDT) must be confirmed, and all relevant medical records should be obtained.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting an effective date of January 8, 2014 for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.
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