The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right ankle disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent from December 11, 2013 to June 7, 2021 for left ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis or a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show marked limited motion of the ankles as required by the new criteria effective February 7, 2021.
- Claimed conditions
- Left ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis, Right ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- February 8, 2024
- Citation
- 24006815
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 24006815.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's right great toe disability was rated at 10 percent prior to August 22, 2014, and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The other issues were not addressed in this decision.
- Denied
The veteran's right ankle disorder has been reasonably shown to produce marked limited motion, but not ankylosis. The RO determined that a 20 percent disability rating was warranted for the residuals of a right ankle sprain with degenerative arthritis.
- 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.
- 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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.