The veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for stress fractures of the left and right feet, as well as service connection for degenerative joint disease (arthritis) of the left ankle, are all granted.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner diagnosed mild degenerative joint disease (arthritis) of the left ankle, which is presumed to have been incurred in service due to its presence within one year of discharge. The stress fractures of the feet were found to be resolved without residual disability.
- Claimed conditions
- stress fracture of the left foot, stress fracture of the right foot, degenerative joint disease (arthritis) of the left ankle
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2006
- Citation
- 0636005
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 832 · Granted: 18% (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 0636005.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA medical records and an updated examination of the service-connected stress fracture of the left foot. The issues on appeal are related to a compensable evaluation for the stress fracture and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent prior to October 10, 2022 for PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several claims for service connection, including those for seizures, loss of bladder control (urinary tract condition), hemorrhoids, psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, residuals of left Achilles tendon tear, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and stress fractures of both feet. The decision also addressed whether the Veteran's character of discharge is a bar to VA compensation benefits.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD. The Veteran submitted a new private psychiatric evaluation in July 2021 that diagnosed him with PTSD.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since July 2009. The Board has granted a TDIU effective as of July 2009, but denied the claim prior to that date.
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