The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a right shoulder disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for degenerative disc and joint disease at L4-5 was granted with an initial rating of 40 percent but not more due to lack of evidence of ankylosis or other disabling conditions.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service records did not show any diagnosed right shoulder disorder, and the current medical evidence does not support a diagnosis. The Board found no chronic right shoulder disability existing at separation from service or present now. For bilateral hearing loss, the rating assigned was noncompensable (0 percent), as Level I hearing bilaterally is considered noncompensable under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Right Shoulder Disorder, Degenerative Disc and Joint Disease, L4-5 with Annular Tear and History of Lumbosacral Strain, Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 10, 2007
- Citation
- 0720471
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0720471.
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: Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to a verified in-service stressor, and the positive and negative medical evidence is at least in equipoise.
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