The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized as limitation of motion due to post-traumatic arthritis, is denied for a rating in excess of 20 percent from January 21, 2003. A rating of 30 percent but no more is granted since January 7, 2019.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show ankylosis or other conditions that would warrant a higher rating for the period before January 7, 2019, and only shows worsening symptoms from this date onward.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ankle disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 9, 2020
- Citation
- A20015421
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, asthma/lung disease, vision disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, leukocytosis, kidney disease/kidney stones, enlarged prostate, sleep apnea, rheumatoid arthritis, lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, right knee, right hand, left knee, right ankle, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury due to untimely appeals or lack of evidence supporting current disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding VA's obligation to obtain relevant records from the Social Security Administration.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, an increased rating for tinnitus, service connection for vertigo, and service connection for a right ankle disability due to untimely VA Form 10182 submissions without good cause shown.
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