The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings for right ankle and hip disabilities. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or functional loss.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s disability ratings were already in excess of what would be considered marked limitation of motion, even when considering additional functional impairment during flare-ups.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ankle strain, Right hip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20080317
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for plantar fasciitis on the right and left foot, left and right ankle strain, left and right knee osteoarthritis, and left and right hip strain, all secondary to service-connected back and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities with weight gain/obesity as an intermediate step.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and readjudicating the cases.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for insomnia disorder with alcohol use disorder, right ankle strain, and left ankle strain as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, post traumatic pain cervical cervicothoracic regions, and residuals of traumatic brain injury. The initial ratings for various service-connected conditions were also denied.
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.