The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 40 percent since May 25, 2019. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date and for TDIU prior to October 11, 2019, has been denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left ankle disability was found to be ankylosed with inversion deformity since May 25, 2019. The highest schedular rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes is 40 percent.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (Left Ankle)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2022
- Citation
- 22053629
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 22053629.
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: Granted
The Veteran's left ankle disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, was initially rated at 10 percent prior to March 8, 2012. Effective March 8, 2012, the disability is rated at 20 percent.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the appellant's service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease did not cause or make chronically worse his right meniscus tear. The criteria for increased evaluations of his bilateral knee and ankle disabilities were not met.
- 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.
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