The Board found that the initial evaluations for the veteran's right ankle and bilateral knee/shoulder conditions were proper, with no evidence of marked limitation or ankylosis. The veteran was granted separate 10 percent ratings for these conditions effective December 2, 1995.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not show any objective findings suggestive of pathology in the joints and there was no functional impairment related to those sites of pain.
- Claimed conditions
- residual instability, os trigonum injury, medial right ankle, osteoarthritis left ankle, left mid-foot, right forefoot, bilateral knees, bilateral shoulders
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 7, 2003
- Citation
- 0304042
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,196 · Granted: 17% (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 0304042.
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 Veteran's TDIU was granted effective April 8, 2020. The Board found that VA failed to properly notify the Veteran of his intent to file a claim and thus the earlier date is valid.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities may have caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral knees and lower back was denied due to a late filing of the Board Appeal request, which is not considered timely given the one-year deadline from the date of the rating decision. The VA has determined that good cause was not shown to extend the time limit.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's back issue, bilateral ankles, bilateral shoulders, and neck issue are granted service connection. Tinnitus is also granted service connection.,Hypertension earlier effective date is dismissed as it was implemented by the AOJ based on a Board decision.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.