The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder subluxation and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine do not render him unemployable.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has a single service-connected disability (left shoulder subluxation) that does not meet the criteria for TDIU due to its low rating, and there is no evidence in the record showing he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities alone.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder subluxation, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- August 4, 2017
- Citation
- 1731522
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 1731522.
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 for left and right shoulder disabilities due to incomplete development in the previous rating decision. The Veteran is required to provide evidence of a nexus between his current shoulder conditions and military service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine and radiculopathy affecting both upper and lower extremities, while dismissing the claim for cervicogenic headaches.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, right upper extremity radiculopathy, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, have resulted in a combined rating of 60 percent as of March 15, 2019. The Board has granted an earlier effective date for TDIU to this point.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU grant.
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