The Board has granted service connection for right ankle arthritis and right hip synovitis, iliotibial band syndrome, chronic bursitis, and symphysis pubis instability. The issues of service connection for the right hip disabilities are resolved in favor of the Veteran.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners did not consider the Veteran's chiropractic treatment records or his competent and credible reports of persistent pain and functional loss since service when providing their negative nexus opinions, thus these opinions lack significant probative weight.
- Claimed conditions
- Right ankle arthritis, Right hip synovitis, Iliotibial band syndrome (right hip), Chronic bursitis (right hip), Symphysis pubis instability (right hip)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20004877
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,506 · 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 20004877.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's right ankle disability, which includes arthritis and tendonitis, is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 40 percent for the entire appeal period.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to issues with the rating assigned for right ankle instability and arthritis. The Veteran's symptoms have been found to significantly impact his ability to use his ankle, requiring a brace and cane.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for single episode major depressive disorder with anxious distress, somatic symptom disorder, and alcohol use disorder; right ankle arthritis; and bilateral plantar fasciitis and a right foot heel spur. The claims for recurrent hip disabilities, a rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament repair residuals, and TDIU were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased rating due to deficiencies in the VA examinations.
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