The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rotator cuff tear, right shoulder; an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than post-traumatic stress disorder); and PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that resulted in these conditions.
The deciding factor: There was no medical evidence showing a continuity of symptomatology since service, nor any competent evidence linking the current diagnoses to service.
- Claimed conditions
- rotator cuff tear, right shoulder, acquired psychiatric disorder (other than post-traumatic stress disorder)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 13, 2008
- Citation
- 0808491
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 0808491.
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: Partly granted
The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease was granted a rating of 40 percent from August 4, 2017, to January 8, 2024, and the claim for a higher rating since January 9, 2024, was denied. The Veteran's TDIU effective date was granted as of July 3, 2020.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's rotator cuff tear, right shoulder, effective May 19, 2022.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for more contemporaneous examinations to determine the current level of severity of all impairment resulting from service-connected right and left shoulder rotator cuff tear and back disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's rotator cuff tear, right shoulder, status post-surgical repair is granted as service connected. The Board found the evidence in equipoise and thus concluded that the condition is related to his in-service shoulder pain.
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