The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder injury (not including residual scar) was denied. The Board found no causal link between the current left shoulder moderate osteoarthritis and service. For the period from March 3, 2008 to May 14, 2009, the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder scar did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. From May 14, 2009, the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent were also not met.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that there was no evidence showing a causal link between the Veteran's current left shoulder disability and her service, including the laceration injury. The VA examiner opined that the current moderate osteoarthritis is not related to the original injury in service.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Shoulder Injury, Scar, Residual of Left Shoulder Injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 7, 2014
- Citation
- 1430423
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 1430423.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in verifying the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), obtaining complete service treatment records, and scheduling a VA examination. The AOJ is required to correct these issues.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for residuals of injury to the left shoulder and remanded the issue of service connection for residuals of injury to the left knee. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent since April 3, 2018. The Board finds a need for additional medical evidence to determine if the disability warranted a higher rating prior to that date.,The Veteran's lumbar spine DJD and DDD warrant an increased rating beyond the current 40 percent assigned. A remand is required to assess the severity of his condition, including whether functional equivalent of ankylosis exists due to painful flare-ups.,A compensable initial rating for scars associated with back surgery and left shoulder surgery is needed as the Veteran reported painful flare-ups but no estimated loss of motion was provided by the VA examiner.,The Veteran's scar on his midline lumbar spine requires a remand to assess its severity, including whether it meets criteria for a compensable initial rating.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it does not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence of record.
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