The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder strain is not related to his active duty service and thus denied his claim for service connection. The Veteran's sleep apnea was sustained during active duty service, but the Board found no direct link between this condition and service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's left shoulder strain is less likely than not caused by or related to his active duty service due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's statements regarding when he allegedly injured his shoulder. The sleep apnea was sustained during service, but no direct link between this condition and service connection could be established.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 23, 2014
- Citation
- 1442516
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 1442516.
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: Partly granted
The Veteran's hypertension, left shoulder strain, and right shoulder disability are all granted as service-connected.,The Veteran is also remanded for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and for service connection for sleep apnea.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and a need for additional examination.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's initial 10% disability rating for left shoulder strain was upheld as there was no clear and unmistakable error in the September 2010 Rating Decision.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and low back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.
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