The Veteran's initial rating for left ankle status post fracture is denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's rating for status post left total knee arthroplasty from January 1, 2015 to February 20, 2020 and from February 21, 2020 are both denied due to lack of evidence supporting ratings in excess of the current assigned ratings.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left ankle disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as he has never had surgical replacement or ankylosis. The left knee disability is rated based on severe painful motion and weakness, warranting a 60% rating from February 21, 2020.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ankle status post fracture, Status post left total knee arthroplasty
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20053700
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 20053700.
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: Partly granted
The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right ankle degenerative arthritis and remanded claims for a compensable evaluation for headaches, service connection for status post left total knee arthroplasty, and service connection for status post right total knee arthroplasty.
- 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.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
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