The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left shoulder disorder and back strain with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation greater than 20 percent for residuals of separation of the left acromioclavicular joint, with ulnar neuralgia, and this claim must be denied. The RO should also readjudicate his claim under the newly enacted diagnostic criteria for intervertebral disc syndrome.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder disorder, back strain with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 1, 2003
- Citation
- 0318584
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 0318584.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a head injury, headache disorder, erectile dysfunction, left earache disorder, chronic fatigue, right shoulder disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, right foot disorder, GERD, and left shoulder disorder, as the evidence did not support current diagnoses of these conditions.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection and rating issues, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these matters.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinea pedis of the left foot and remanded claims for a bilateral foot disorder, cervical disorder, left shoulder disorder, lumbosacral disorder, right shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and eardrum disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the claims for left shoulder disorder and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to missing evidence.
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