The Veteran's service connection claim for a left ankle condition and his increased rating claim for his left knee disability were both denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of a left ankle condition, and the Veteran did not have a current disability in his left knee that was related to service or secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show a current diagnosis of a left ankle condition, and there is no medical opinion linking any current left ankle symptoms to service. The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Ankle Condition, Left Knee Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 2, 2020
- Citation
- 20064435
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 service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The claims for urinary frequency disability and residuals of a cholecystectomy were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, including separate ratings for instability and meniscal conditions, but denied higher ratings for flexion limitations in both knees. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to December 1, 2021.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for tension headaches effective September 13, 2022, but denied earlier effective dates and service connection for various conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia, but denied service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, intestinal condition (chronic colitis), and chronic migraine disability.
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