The Board has determined that there is at least an equipoise of evidence regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the left shoulder and contractures of the middle to ring fingers of both hands. Therefore, these conditions are granted as being related to active service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's current disabilities were likely due to his period of active duty service, including degenerative and inflammatory arthritis of the left shoulder and flexion contractures of the middle to ring fingers of both hands which began during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis of the Left Shoulder, Contractures of the Middle to Ring Fingers of the Left and Right Hands
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2011
- Citation
- 1135411
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1135411.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by tendonitis rotator cuff impingement syndrome and arthritis, is rated at a minimum of 10 percent due to limitation of motion. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim.,The Board also denied the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the left shoulder, concluding that there was no evidence linking his condition to active duty or exposure to ionizing radiation.
- Whole decision: Denied
The veteran's service-connected right shoulder arthritis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The left shoulder arthritis is rated at 10 percent due to painful motion requiring subacromial injections. The right knee arthritis has no limitation of motion and thus receives no compensation under DC 5010. The left knee, status post medial meniscus arthroscopy, does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
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