The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder and ankle degenerative joint disease on a presumptive basis due to in-service bone studies indicating arthritis. The issue of an increased rating for right knee arthritis is also granted.
The deciding factor: Current x-rays show arthritis, which satisfies the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bilateral Shoulder Degenerative Joint Disease, Bilateral Ankle Degenerative Joint Disease, Right Knee Arthritis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19148415
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 remands the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as it needs a medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the condition prior to October 16, 2023.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another since September 30, 2020.
- Partly granted
The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for OSA and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The remaining issues were remanded for further development.
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