The veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable ratings were denied. The right shoulder disability was rated as 10% prior to April 20, 2005, but not more than 10%. From April 20, 2005, the rating remained at 10%. Bilateral shin splints did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability or bilateral shin splints were more than just secondary to her service-connected conditions. The veteran's right shoulder disability was rated as 10% prior to April 20, 2005, and remained at 10% thereafter.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral shin splints, Perforated right tympanic membrane, Residuals of a left ankle sprain, Right shoulder disability (tendinitis and bursitis)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 5, 2006
- Citation
- 0631316
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,419 · Granted: 21% (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 0631316.
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed because the July 3, 2024, Rating Decision only proposed to combine ratings for bilateral shin splints and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran did not properly identify issues he was appealing.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance is granted, with the effective date set at October 11, 2021.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including right hip, left hip, bilateral shin splints, and sleep apnea. The remaining issues are remanded for further examination.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include alcohol use disorder, unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress, and PTSD was granted. Other claims for various conditions were denied.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.