The Board granted a separate 20 percent rating for right ankle instability associated with the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, but denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the same condition.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed persistent instability throughout the appeal period without any ligamentous tears, requiring use of a prescribed brace. However, the dorsiflexion and plantar flexion measurements did not meet the criteria for a higher 20 percent rating under both old and new versions of Diagnostic Code 5271.
- Claimed conditions
- lateral collateral ligament sprain, right ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 19, 2025
- Citation
- A25044723
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,088 · Granted: 33% (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 A25044723.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeals for earlier effective dates for the specified conditions were dismissed due to untimely filing of the VA Form 10182.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of October 25, 2021, for the Veteran's service connection claims for plantar fasciitis and pes planus, bilateral; left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome and tendinitis; trochanteric pain syndrome, left hip; trochanteric pain syndrome, right hip; lateral collateral ligament sprain, left ankle; and lateral collateral ligament sprain, right ankle.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for lateral collateral ligament sprain of both ankles as the evidence did not support a relationship between the current disabilities and the Veteran's active duty service.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for a bilateral ankle and foot disability, finding that the evidence did not warrant reconsideration under 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(c) and that an earlier effective date was otherwise not warranted.
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