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
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,200 · Granted: 43% (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 19191648.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and a bilateral foot disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.
- 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 SMC was granted at the intermediate rate due to his need for aid and attendance, which is related to service-connected conditions including bladder and prostate cancer residuals, lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran does not meet criteria for loss of use of any extremities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and foot disorders due to a lack of VA examination and medical opinion. The RO is instructed to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion to determine if any current diagnoses are related to active service.
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