The Veteran's initial 20 percent rating for left ankle disability is granted, with the highest possible rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found marked limitation of motion in the left ankle throughout the appeal period, which warranted a 20 percent rating based on DC 5271 and 5003.
- Claimed conditions
- Osteoarthritis of the left ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 21, 2019
- Citation
- 19165037
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,341 · Granted: 33% (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 19165037.
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 Veteran's right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome are currently rated at 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively. The Board denied the claims for higher ratings as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 8515.,The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right ankle and left ankle are both currently rated at 10 percent. The Board denied the claims for higher ratings as there is no evidence that meets the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5003-5271.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination to address the inadequacies of previous examinations and obtain any relevant private treatment records.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis and bilateral ankle osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to active duty service.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are granted. His obstructive sleep apnea is also granted as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric conditions. Right knee degenerative arthritis, right knee strain, and right knee meniscal tear are all granted. Left knee degenerative arthritis and left knee strain are granted. Low back disabilities are granted. The Veteran's lateral collateral ligament sprain of the left ankle is granted as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. His bilateral plantar fasciitis rating from December 3, 2019, is increased to 50%.
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