The Board denied an increased initial rating for right ankle degenerative arthritis but granted a separate 20 percent rating for right ankle instability, and denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes due to the lack of evidence supporting more than moderate limitation of motion or functional equivalent of ankylosis. However, there was sufficient evidence to support a separate 20 percent rating for right ankle instability associated with degenerative arthritis.
- Claimed conditions
- right ankle degenerative arthritis, right ankle instability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25042200
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 998 · 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 A25042200.
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 Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected right ankle degenerative arthritis and his current knee conditions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating for service-connected right ankle with traumatic arthritis (claimed as right ankle instability). The Board dismissed the appeal.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the proposed discontinuance of a temporary total rating based on convalescence for right ankle tendonitis and instability status-post subtalar arthrodesis ORIF due to procedural issues.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle degenerative arthritis, right ankle degenerative arthritis, left foot pes cavus, and right foot pes cavus as there is no credible medical evidence establishing a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.
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