The Veteran's left ankle disability, including post-surgical repair of the Achilles tendon and instability, is currently rated at 20 percent. A separate rating for marked left ankle instability has been granted beginning December 2, 2016.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations indicated that the Veteran's left ankle disability resulted in significant functional impairment but did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on ankylosis or other specific diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Achilles tendon tear, Ankle instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 4, 2023
- Citation
- 23026006
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 23026006.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left Achilles tendon tear, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and bilateral Achilles tendon tears, finding that his conditions were not caused by or aggravated by his active duty service. The Board also found no secondary service connection as his service-connected disabilities did not cause or aggravate his current conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's postoperative Achilles tendon repair of the left foot is rated at 20 percent, which is granted.
- Granted
The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left ankle disability, effective from February 21, 2013. A separate 20 percent rating is also granted for bilateral shin splints as secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability.
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