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
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.
- 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 granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees, as well as osteoarthritis of the right and left ankles, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced in favor of a relationship to active duty service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the right and left ankles is granted. Increased ratings for her bilateral knee disabilities are denied, but the case is remanded for further evaluation.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral ankle, low back, and knee disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected pes planus disability. As a result, these claims for service connection have been granted.
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