The Board denied the veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date and a higher initial evaluation for left ankle sprain, finding that the earliest possible effective date was August 24, 2022, and that a 10 percent rating accurately reflected the severity of the disability.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the lack of timely appeal after the February 2020 denial and the proper assignment of an effective date tied to the intent-to-file form received in August 2022, as well as the moderate limitation of motion consistent with a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5271.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle sprain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 19, 2025
- Citation
- A25025572
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 Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain and left ankle sprain, finding that the evidence was in approximate balance showing injuries during active duty training (ADT) from August 12, 2023 to August 25, 2023.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for hypogonadism with fatigue, GERD, and a right ear hearing loss disability. The Veteran's left rib disability was denied, and the ratings for his left shoulder injury, left hip bursitis, impairment of the left thigh, left knee retropatellar pain syndrome limitation of extension, and left ankle sprain were either granted or denied with specific rating percentages.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left ankle sprain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is causally related to an in-service injury.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed as the Veteran did not timely file a Board Appeal request.
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