The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle sprain and left knee degenerative changes were denied as the evidence did not support higher evaluations under applicable rating criteria.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show findings of ankylosis, malunion of the os calcis or astragalus, residuals of an astragalectomy; instability, dislocation, muscle weakness or atrophy; impairment of the tibia and fibula; or genu recurvatum. The Veteran's symptoms were adequately addressed under the current rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Ankle Sprain, Degenerative Changes of Left Knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20002153
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.
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The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for adjustment disorder with anxiety and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not support the level of impairment required for these ratings.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several other claims for further development.
- Denied
The appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed, and appeals for earlier effective dates for cervical disc disease, lumbar degenerative disc disease, arthritis in both hands, and right ankle sprain were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied all claims for increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of the conditions.
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