The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left Achilles tendon rupture did not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent during the initial rating period from December 10, 2008.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show ankylosis of the ankle or symptoms consistent with a severe foot injury or marked ankle disability due to the left Achilles tendon rupture.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Achilles Tendon Rupture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20014901
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20014901.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right knee instability and posttraumatic degeneration were granted a separate rating of 10 percent from July 23, 2015 to September 15, 2015. The Veteran's left Achilles tendon rupture was denied prior to June 1, 2021.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle disability, diagnosed as a left Achilles tendon rupture, was incurred during his period of INACDUTRA (inactive duty training) while on ordered physical training. The evidence supports this finding and service connection is granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's right knee disability and left Achilles repair, finding that his conditions did not warrant a higher rating based on current clinical evidence.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.