The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: Competent medical evidence did not establish a nexus between the current shoulder disability and the veteran's military service or his service-connected wrist disability, as there was no evidence of a shoulder injury in service, and the first complaints of shoulder pain were noted over 25 years post-service. Additionally, the percentage ratings for the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum schedular criteria for a T/R.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral shoulder disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 24, 2009
- Citation
- 0910940
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and several claims were remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the lower back, sleep apnea, bilateral chronic venous insufficiency, and a bilateral knee disability. The appeal was dismissed for an effective date prior to December 28, 2006, for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and a bilateral shoulder disability, as there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between the current disabilities and his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral shoulder disability, back disability, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to in-service events.
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