The Board granted service connection for gouty arthritis of the left index finger, right hand, and right and left elbows, as well as the right wrist, left wrist, and left ankle due to clear and unmistakable error in previous rating decisions. The motion to revise the January 16, 2019 rating decision that denied service connection for gouty arthritis of the right ankle, right knee, left knee, right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, and left hip was denied.
The deciding factor: The correct facts were not before the adjudicator at the time of the September 2018 and January 2019 rating decisions, as the Veteran's service treatment records contained evidence of gouty arthritis during service. The error in failing to apply the chronic disease provisions manifestly changed the outcome.
- Claimed conditions
- gouty arthritis of the left index finger, gouty arthritis of the right hand, gouty arthritis of the right elbow, gouty arthritis of the left elbow, gouty arthritis of the right wrist, gouty arthritis of the left wrist, gouty arthritis of the right ankle, gouty arthritis of the left ankle
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- March 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25023264
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,977 · Granted: 27% (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 A25023264.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for gouty arthritis of the right ankle and bilateral first metatarsophalangeal joints were denied as a result of his failure to report for necessary VA examinations.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 60 percent for gouty arthritis of the right elbow, bilateral knees, and bilateral ankles has been dismissed due to his withdrawal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims due to failure to schedule VA examinations and for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for gouty arthritis of the left ankle, psychiatric disability (PTSD), sleep apnea, and right hip disability. The appeals were based on new and material evidence.
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