The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the current evaluations of 10 percent are appropriate based on the evidence showing moderate limitation of motion.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed no more than moderate limitation of range of motion in the Veteran's ankles and knees, which is consistent with a 10 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5271 for right ankle subtalar dislocation and Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5260 for right knee degenerative joint disease and left knee patellofemoral syndrome and tendinosis.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ankle subtalar dislocation, Right knee degenerative joint disease, Left knee patellofemoral syndrome and tendinosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19186378
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome, left and right ankle disabilities but remanded the claims for other joint conditions due to insufficient evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for left knee post-prosthetic total replacement on or after December 16, 2024, as the maximum schedular evaluation of 60 percent was already assigned.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a compensable disability rating for hypertension, an increased rating for PTSD with adjustment disorder and depressed mood, an increased rating for tinnitus, and increased ratings for left knee status post meniscectomy with arthritis and right knee degenerative joint disease.
- Partly granted
The Board denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee degenerative joint disease prior to May 13, 2021, but granted a rating of 30 percent for both knees as of that date due to instability.
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