The Veteran's initial rating for left ankle fracture with chronic sprain is granted at 20 percent, but no higher. The right ankle disability remains rated at 20 percent, effective from November 6, 2012. Both issues are remanded due to the need for further evaluation.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding of ankylosis in either ankle, which would allow for higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5270 and 5271 respectively.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ankle fracture with chronic sprain, Right ankle fracture with chronic sprain and arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19178336
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,960 · Granted: 36% (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 19178336.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
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