The Board has granted service connection for bilateral rotator cuff tears, finding that the Veteran's current condition is secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and lumbar spine. The TDIU issue remains pending.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established based on a finding that the Veteran's bilateral rotator cuff tears are secondary to his service-connected back disabilities, as evidenced by his testimony and medical opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral rotator cuff tears
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2012
- Citation
- 1239461
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 1239461.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral rotator cuff tears and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's current bilateral rotator cuff tears are unclear as to whether they were incurred in or aggravated by his active military service. The Board finds that a VA medical opinion is needed to determine the etiology of the diagnosed rotator cuff tears and their relationship to service-connected shoulder bursitis.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
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