The Veteran's left ankle limitation of motion is granted a rating of 20 percent. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include dysthymic and anxiety disorder, was reopened and granted.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s current psychological issues are not related to service due to other medical conditions, but his lay statements supported his contention that his psychiatric disabilities began in service.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle limitation of motion, acquired psychiatric disability (dysthymic and generalized anxiety disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19134833
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,217 · Granted: 46% (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 19134833.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during its pendency.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial rating for left Achilles tendon rupture from August 8, 2007 to March 6, 2017 is denied. The case is remanded for further evaluation of the left foot surgical scar and left ankle limitation of motion.
- Granted
The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20% prior to November 18, 2011, and 40% as of that date. A separate 30% rating is granted for a severe left foot injury from June 14, 2010, to November 18, 2011.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left ear hearing loss and entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) have been dismissed as the issues were withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative.
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