The appeal seeking revision of the March 1999 rating decision that denied entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a right shoulder disability is denied. The March 1999 rating decision, which awarded an initial noncompensable (zero percent) rating for the service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right ankle, is revised to reflect an award of an initial rating of 10 percent for a right ankle disability.
The deciding factor: The RO assigned a 10% rating based on the minimum compensable rating provided under the rating schedule for the Shoulder and Arm, which was warranted given the Veteran's range of motion. The Court held in Sowers v. McDonald that painful motion must be rated under the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Post Acromioplasty, Degenerative Arthritis of Right Ankle
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2026
- Citation
- A26008120
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A26008120.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's mood disorder is rated at 70 percent, and his degenerative arthritis of the right ankle is rated at 20 percent. The appeal for a higher rating for the mood disorder is denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and right ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing right ankle fracture did not worsen during service, and his current arthritis is not related to military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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