The Board granted the restoration of a 20 percent rating for right ankle degenerative arthritis from March 1, 2024, and denied ratings in excess of 20 percent for the same condition. The Board also denied service connection for back, right hip, and right knee disabilities.
The deciding factor: The reduction in the disability rating for a right ankle disability was not proper due to lack of sustained material improvement under ordinary conditions of life, while there was no evidence supporting service connection for the other claimed conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- right ankle degenerative arthritis, back disability, right hip disability, right knee disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 21, 2024
- Citation
- 24033300
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back disability due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding VA's failure to provide the Veteran with a VA examination prior to the rating decision.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
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