The Board found that the veteran's arthritis of multiple joints, including his shoulders and knees, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA examination did not show any chronic residual disability from these injuries at separation. The most probative medical evidence does not support a connection to military service. Additionally, there is no evidence showing that the arthritis is proximately due to or aggravated by the service-connected left ankle disability.
The deciding factor: The veteran's diagnosed arthritis of multiple joints was not shown to be related to his military service and did not develop within one year post-service as a presumptive condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of multiple joints (previously claimed as residuals of injuries to the shoulders and knees), Degenerative arthritis of the right ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 12, 2005
- Citation
- 0500943
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,374 · Granted: 19% (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 0500943.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his military service and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Partly granted
The Board granted initial evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the right ankle and right leg length discrepancy, while denying an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right hip sprain with impairment of the thigh and an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right foot degenerative arthritis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record. The case is remanded for further development.
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