The claims to reopen the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including right ankle arthritis, back disability, bilateral lower extremity pain and swelling, left foot drop/abnormal gait, cervical spine/neck disability, residuals of a tibia fracture, right ear hearing loss, allergic condition, asthma, dermatitis (swelling of the groin area), and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) are granted. Service connection is established for these conditions based on their direct relationship to service.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support that any of the disabilities were incurred or aggravated during military service, including as a result of an in-service accident involving falling shelves. The preponderance of the evidence weighs against finding a causal link between current diagnoses and service.
- Claimed conditions
- right ankle arthritis, back disability, bilateral lower extremity pain and swelling, left foot drop/abnormal gait, cervical spine/neck disability, residuals, left tibia fracture, right ear hearing loss, allergic condition, asthma, dermatitis, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19107784
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,948 · Granted: 29% (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 19107784.
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 Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for onychomycosis was denied as the condition did not require treatment and covered less than 5% of his body. The Board also remanded issues regarding service connection for left ear hearing loss and entitlement to a compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, endometriosis, thyroid condition, and chronic fatigue syndrome due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are now considered on their merits.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of right ear hearing loss, and the case is dismissed.
- Denied
The Veteran's respiratory disability, including asthma and COPD, is denied as service connection is not warranted due to the condition being solely attributed to smoking.
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