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Granted

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is related to active service and he has been granted service connection. The claim for a higher initial disability rating for the lumbar spine fusion disability is pending, as are issues regarding TDIU.

The deciding factor: Service connection was established based on in-service complaints of shoulder instability and subsequent diagnoses, with competent and credible statements supporting this relationship.

Claimed conditions
left shoulder disability, lumbar spine fusion
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
20%
Decision date
August 26, 2014
Citation
1438156

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 1438156.

What this means for you

A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.

What you can do next

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