The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral gout and right shoulder tendonitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher than a 20 percent rating for right shoulder tendonitis from March 11, 2017.
The deciding factor: The examination reports provided by the VA did not show more frequent exacerbations or limitations of motion that would warrant a higher rating. The Veteran's gout was inactive and did not result in chronic residuals, while his right shoulder tendonitis had limited pain but no functional loss beyond what is compensated under the current 20 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral gout, right shoulder tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20006611
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,948 · Granted: 29% (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 20006611.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected left shoulder tendonitis, right shoulder tendonitis, left knee tendonitis, and right elbow tendinitis (impairment of supination and pronation) have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service-connected right elbow tendinitis (limitation of flexion) has also been denied.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right shoulder tendonitis were denied. The effective date of service connection for the right shoulder tendonitis was granted on May 1, 2023, but no earlier. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right shoulder disability, major depressive disorder, and right ankle sprain are being remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder tendonitis, cervical strain, chondromalacia patella right knee, lumbar degenerative disc disease with strain, episodes of locking left knee, left knee degenerative joint disease with patellofemoral pain syndrome and chondromalacia patella status-post surgery, and limitation of extension left knee, have rendered the Veteran unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 15, 2019.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral gout is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and grants this claim. The hallux valgus issue remains pending as it requires a remand for further examination and opinion.
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