The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the left ankle, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, and status post rotator cuff repair of the right shoulder with degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's current bilateral shoulder disabilities are less likely related to his military service and more likely associated with a car accident, while the left ankle disability was linked to a motor vehicle accident. The Board did not find credible evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptoms since service.
- Claimed conditions
- osteoarthritis of the left ankle, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, status post rotator cuff repair of the right shoulder with degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 27, 2009
- Citation
- 0927962
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 0927962.
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 of the issues related to increased ratings for various conditions, including tendonitis of the right ankle, osteoarthritis of the left ankle, lumbosacral strain, and radiculopathy in both lower extremities, was dismissed due to a procedural defect.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including various musculoskeletal conditions and mental health disorders.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent rating for left ankle osteoarthritis from June 25, 2021, and a separate 10 percent rating for left ankle instability.
- Dismissed
The appeal for an increased rating for left ankle osteoarthritis was dismissed due to a concurrent election and error in the filing process.
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