The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI residuals and left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis are service-connected as they were caused by his PTSD, which is already service-connected.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's alcohol use at the time of the June 2005 motor vehicle accident was a form of self-medication due to his now service-connected PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) residuals, Left Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 12, 2016
- Citation
- 1646518
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 1646518.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 20% since December 2020, and the Board has granted a maximum schedular rating of 30% based on limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD with TBI residuals alone, from August 18, 2016 forward, was denied as the evidence did not show that he could secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.
- Granted
The Veteran's TBI residuals are rated at 40% effective September 10, 2022. The heart disability is rated at 60%, effective April 1, 2025.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the VA examination report and the need for further clarification on whether the Veteran's hyposmia is a TBI residual or related to his nasal fracture. The case will be returned for an orthopedic examination to clarify the severity of the service-connected TBI residuals.
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