The Veteran's left ankle disability has been granted an initial rating of 20 percent, effective March 25, 2022. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's sleep problems and psychological symptoms were not related to his left ankle degenerative arthritis.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis, left ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 25, 2022
- Citation
- 22017480
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 22017480.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed for proposed reductions in ratings for degenerative arthritis, left ankle, and left knee osteoarthritis, limitation of flexion. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus and service connection for hypercholesterolemia were denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims regarding his service-connected disabilities, specifically left knee and bilateral ankle conditions. The case is being remanded to obtain new VA examinations from an examiner with sufficient expertise.
- Granted
The Veteran's left ankle and right ankle disabilities have been granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent each, effective prior to October 23, 2017. The esophageal condition has been granted a maximum disability rating of 60 percent.,The Veteran’s service-connected conditions are currently rated as follows: left ankle - 20%, right ankle - 20%, and esophageal condition - 60%
- Denied
The veteran's claims for initial evaluations of his service-connected disabilities were denied. The residuals of a fractured mandible do not warrant a compensable evaluation, the low back disorder is rated at 10 percent based on moderate intervertebral disc syndrome with recurring attacks, and both knee and ankle conditions are each rated at 10 percent.
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