The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle ulcers, and for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities were denied. The denial of the left ankle ulcers claim is final as no new and material evidence was received. The right and left knee disability claims were also denied.
The deciding factor: The claims were denied based on lack of new and material evidence for service connection, and failure to meet the criteria for increased ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle ulcers, right knee traumatic arthritis, left knee traumatic arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19117883
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,050 · Granted: 23% (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 19117883.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial rating for left knee disability, characterized by painful motion but not ankylosis, flexion limited to 45 degrees or less, extension of 10 degrees or greater, instability, or subluxation, was denied as his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine and left knee traumatic arthritis have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a scheduled hearing.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of the 10 percent evaluation for left knee meniscus, effective April 21, 2025, and an additional 20 percent rating was also granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of increased ratings for right knee and left knee disabilities, as well as a rating for PTSD and major depressive disorder, due to insufficient evidence.
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