The Veteran's claim for a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left ankle chronic synovitis, status post fracture with degenerative joint disease is denied. The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected left ankle surgical scar is granted and assigned a 10 percent rating effective from August 31, 2015.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not indicate that the Veteran’s left ankle disability more closely approximated a marked degree of severity or additional functional loss with repetitive use due to pain. The Veteran's service-connected left ankle surgical scar was found to be painful and well healed but slightly sensitive to touch, warranting a 10 percent rating effective from August 31, 2015.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle chronic synovitis, left ankle surgical scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19158902
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19158902.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
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The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The effective dates for earlier connection claims remain denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the award of 10 percent evaluations for left lower extremity sural nerve neuritis and remanded other claims for further development.
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