The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as a thoracolumbar spine disability, are denied. The Board finds that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to her active service or any service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: There is insufficient competent medical evidence relating the Veteran's current shoulder and spine disabilities to either her active service or any of her service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Myofascial pain syndrome of the trapezius muscle and medial scapular region, right (claimed as right shoulder condition), Myofascial pain syndrome of the trapezius muscle and medial scapular region, left (claimed as left shoulder condition), Thoracolumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 28, 2016
- Citation
- 1644610
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 1644610.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, upper extremity neurological, and lower extremity neurological disabilities due to inadequate VA medical examinations in March 2019 and January-May 2016. The new examinations must consider the Veteran's reported onset dates for his symptoms.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, which is granted based on the evidence provided.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for thoracolumbar spine disability and left hip disability due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The claims will be reconsidered with new medical opinions.
- Granted
The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The evidence does not support a finding of entitlement to an increased rating for this condition.
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