Service connection for a left shoulder disorder, degenerative joint disease of the right hip, and a left hip disorder (arthritis) is denied.,The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions during his active duty. The current diagnoses were first noted decades after discharge.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence showing that the Veteran had any symptoms of a left shoulder, right hip, or left hip disorder (arthritis) during service or within the applicable presumptive period. The lack of post-service medical records documenting these conditions for many years after service supports the denial.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Left Shoulder, Degenerative Joint Disease of the Right Hip, Degenerative Joint Disease of the Left Hip
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 15, 2018
- Citation
- 18102311
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 18102311.
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: Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, right hip and left knee conditions have been granted.,Service connection has been established for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral hips and patellofemoral degenerative changes of the left knee.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left hip, left shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is proximately due to his obesity, which was caused by his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative joint disease. As such, service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to these conditions has been granted.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left hip disability were denied as the current range of motion findings do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.
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