The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been granted increased ratings of 20 percent each, effective from the date of the decision.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations consistently showed marked limitation of motion in both ankles, which is sufficient to meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5271.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of the right ankle, Tibia fracture, excision of the left tibial osteoid osteoma, with varus and procurvatum deformity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19100071
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 832 · Granted: 18% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19100071.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine, right ankle, left ankle, and left foot on a presumptive basis due to continuous symptoms since service separation.
- Granted
The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is granted as service-connected, with a grant of service connection for chronic right ankle pain and stiffness as an undiagnosed illness. The arthritis of the lumbar spine and right ankle are denied.,Service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted due to equipoise evidence. Service connection for right ankle arthritis is denied. Service connection for right ankle pain and stiffness (undiagnosed) is granted.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for arthritis affecting multiple joints, including the back, ankles, hands, hips, and knees. The decision is based on a finding of continuity of symptoms since service.
- Partly granted
Service connection for arthritis of the right ankle and left ankle has been granted.,The issue of service connection for a left foot disability is being remanded.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.