The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted a 20% rating, effective from the date of decision. The low back disability is granted a 20% rating since March 28, 2024. The TDIU claim for the period July 10, 2014 to January 11, 2017 is dismissed as moot.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right ankle disability was found to have marked limitation of motion (dorsiflexion limited to 10 degrees and plantarflexion limited to 35 degrees), which approximates a 20% rating under the revised criteria. The low back disability met the criteria for a 20% rating since March 28, 2024. The TDIU claim was dismissed as moot due to the grant of benefits.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ankle disability, Low back disability, Left lower extremity neuropathy affecting external popliteal nerve (common peroneal), Right lower extremity neuropathy affecting external popliteal nerve (common peroneal)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 15, 2026
- Citation
- A26004028
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 A26004028.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability alone does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hip disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address the severity of his low back disability, including whether he has experienced incapacitating episodes of IVDS.
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