The Board has granted service connection for left ankle tibiotalar joint osteoarthritis, right ankle tibiotalar joint osteoarthritis, and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent lay statements, his service treatment records showing bilateral ankle complaints during service in March and April 1997, and a September 2023 private opinion linking these conditions to his active duty.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports that the Veteran developed left and right ankle tibiotalar joint osteoarthritis and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis due to injuries sustained during service. The lay statements of the Veteran, combined with the medical literature supporting posttraumatic pathological degenerative processes for these conditions, provide sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his in-service injuries and current disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- left ankle tibiotalar joint osteoarthritis, right ankle tibiotalar joint osteoarthritis, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 1, 2026
- Citation
- A26029404
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 A26029404.
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 claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The initial rating of 10 percent, but not higher, has been assigned for pulmonary sarcoidosis. Service connection has also been established for migraine headaches, degenerative arthritis in the left knee, right knee disorder (osteoarthritis), right ankle sprain, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, bilateral flat feet, and various foot conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors and inadequate medical opinions. The issues of entitlement to TDIU are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the other claims.
- Granted
The Board has granted an increased rating to 20 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with arthritis, effective October 26, 2012.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD-TBI with traumatic brain injury is granted a 70 percent disability rating effective November 15, 2018. Service connection for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, and sleep apnea are also granted.
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