The Veteran's right ankle disability, including instability and a scar, is rated at the maximum allowable under current criteria. A separate rating for mild instability is granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support ankylosis of the ankle, which would warrant higher ratings based on limitation of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, Right ankle instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 1, 2024
- Citation
- A24062180
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 916 · Granted: 40% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A24062180.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's right ankle disability, including instability and tendonitis, is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of marked limited motion or other significant impairment.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle instability and secondary service connection for a right ankle scar. The decision also readjudicates the claim of service connection for the right ankle scar.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to issues with the rating assigned for right ankle instability and arthritis. The Veteran's symptoms have been found to significantly impact his ability to use his ankle, requiring a brace and cane.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected HIV and related conditions have resulted in the effective loss of use of his left foot, meeting the criteria for automobile or adaptive equipment eligibility.
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