The Veteran's service connection for a left ankle disability is granted. The Veteran's right shoulder DJD status post surgical repair of labral tear, right elbow lateral epicondylitis and tendonitis, and left elbow lateral epicondylitis and tendonitis are all rated at the maximum schedular rating available. Other conditions have been evaluated based on their severity.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service connection for a left ankle disability is granted as his statements and medical evidence support that he experienced left ankle pain during service and has had recurrent symptoms since then. The right shoulder, elbow lateral epicondylitis and tendonitis, and left elbow lateral epicondylitis and tendonitis are all rated at the maximum schedular rating available due to their severity.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral plantar fasciitis, Left ankle strain, Left elbow lateral epicondylitis and tendonitis, Left foot cuboid bone fracture, Left foot hallux valgus, Lumbar spine degenerative changes, Right elbow lateral epicondylitis and tendonitis, Right foot fracture of small toe, Right foot hallux valgus, Right shoulder DJD (Degenerative Joint Disease) status post surgical repair of labral tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 9, 2019
- Citation
- 19192371
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,217 · Granted: 46% (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 19192371.
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 decided to remand the claim of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to bilateral plantar fasciitis and left shoulder tendinitis due to inadequate medical opinion regarding causation.
- Denied
The Veteran's VR&E benefits were denied as she did not have an employment handicap and was found to be employable with her current skills, experience, and education. The appeal must be denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's request for a higher rating for his total right knee replacement and service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support finding an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was dismissed as a matter of law due to a full grant of benefits. The appeals for left knee and left ankle disabilities are remanded.
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