The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability with traumatic arthritis does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for an increased rating under any applicable diagnostic code.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows marked limited motion of the ankle but no evidence of ankylosis. The Veteran's right ankle disability is evaluated under Diagnostic Code 5271, which requires a maximum 20 percent rating for marked limitation of motion. Considering all relevant factors, including pain and functional loss, the Board finds that the current 20 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of the Veteran's disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ankle disability with traumatic arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 28, 2021
- Citation
- 21076829
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 21076829.
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: Denied
The Veteran's right ankle disability with traumatic arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet or more closely approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
- 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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