The Board denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for the right ankle disability prior to September 1, 2020, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, as well as total disability due to individual unemployability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the evidence did not support a higher rating for his right ankle disability based on the criteria set forth in the Rating Schedule.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the Right Ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2025
- Citation
- 25014153
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,456 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 25014153.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's right ankle scar and DJD were evaluated, with the scar rated at 0 percent and the DJD rated at 10 percent. The Board denied a higher rating for both conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's chronic right ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease, effective from the date of the decision.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right ankle DJD is related to an in-service injury, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right ankle disability, which includes a fracture and arthritis, is currently rated at 30 percent combined. The claim for an increased rating remains pending.
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