The Veteran's service connection claim for an undiagnosed illness manifested by joint pain in the left ankle is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran exhibited objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability during active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, meeting the requirements for service connection under § 3.317.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's undiagnosed illness manifested by joint pain in the left ankle is considered a qualifying chronic disability due to his service in the Persian Gulf War and meets the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.
- Claimed conditions
- Joint Pain in Left Ankle, Left Shoulder Disability, Cardiovascular Disability (Hypertension), Gastrointestinal Disability (GERD), Short-Term Memory Loss
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 25, 2020
- Citation
- 20014527
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 20014527.
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 claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities are remanded. The claim for sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea) remains denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date before April 1, 2018 for a 20% rating for left shoulder disability was denied. The appeal also resulted in the assignment of a 20% rating from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018, and a TDIU granted from April 1, 2018 to September 3, 2025.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to establish an in-service event or injury related to his shoulders. The Veteran's current shoulder conditions are not linked to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total rating for his left shoulder disability, finding that he did not require convalescence beyond August 31, 2011 following his surgery.
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