The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been denied. The left shoulder sprain is rated at 20 percent, the left ankle disability from September 8, 2011 to July 11, 2019 is also rated at 20 percent, and for any period after that, a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran's entitlement to TDIU has been rendered moot due to his receipt of a combined 100% schedular disability rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for an increased rating or TDIU as he is already receiving the maximum schedular ratings and his entitlement to TDIU would result in duplicate counting of disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Left shoulder sprain, Left ankle arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19191648
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 19191648.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for PTSD, and a compensable rating for left ankle arthritis.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including bladder and prostate cancer residuals, lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral knee disabilities, left ankle arthritis, and depressive disorder, have been found to meet the criteria for a higher level of SMC at the intermediate rate between 38 U.S.C. § 1114 subsections (l) and (m).
- Denied
The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, left hip limitation of flexion, left hip limitation of extension, and left ankle arthritis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been remanded due to the need for additional examination of his service-connected DJD of the feet.
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