The Veteran was granted a 70 percent rating for an adjustment disorder mixed with anxiety and depressed mood, but the claims for increased ratings for a painful right ankle scar, a compensable rating for a right ankle scar not associated with underlying soft tissue damage, and degenerative arthritis of the right ankle were denied. The Board also remanded claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities and entitlement to TDIU.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of suicidal ideation, occupational and social impairment, and other mental health issues supported a 70 percent rating for his adjustment disorder mixed with anxiety and depressed mood. The scar was painful but not unstable or associated with underlying soft tissue damage, and the degenerative arthritis did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Adjustment Disorder mixed with anxiety and depressed mood, Painful right ankle scar, Right ankle degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- October 22, 2024
- Citation
- A24068022
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right ankle degenerative arthritis and remanded claims for a compensable evaluation for headaches, service connection for status post left total knee arthroplasty, and service connection for status post right total knee arthroplasty.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a psychiatric disability and assigned a 100% rating. The left ankle degenerative arthritis was rated at 30% from October 1, 2017.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for a rating greater than 20 percent for IVDS with degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, a rating greater than 10 percent for right ankle degenerative arthritis, and entitlement to TDIU prior to January 7, 2019.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and requires new VA examinations.
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