The Board has granted service connection for right ankle degenerative joint disease. The claims for left and right knee disabilities are remanded as the VA examiner is needed to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's right ankle disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was a current diagnosis of degenerative joint disease in the right ankle, which corresponds with an older fracture. The examiner concluded it was not permanently aggravated by service but less likely than not aggravated. However, since the presumption of soundness attaches due to the preexisting condition, the Veteran is entitled to compensation for the injury incurred during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ankle degenerative joint disease, Left knee meniscus tear and degenerative arthritis leading to total knee replacement, Right knee degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 21, 2021
- Citation
- 21003219
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 21003219.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right ankle degenerative arthritis, and left ankle degenerative arthritis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right knee degenerative arthritis, as well as his claim for a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal is not about service connection at all.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right knee degenerative arthritis based on limitation of motion was denied. A separate 20 percent rating for a right knee meniscus tear is granted. The claims for service connection for left hip condition and right foot gout are dismissed.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not result in the ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 5, 2021.
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