This decision denies service connection for left shoulder and low back disabilities, but grants a 50% evaluation for dysthymic disorder. The Veteran's current symptoms do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.,The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses for left shoulder or low back disabilities during his appeal period.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not provide sufficient medical evidence to establish current disabilities for left shoulder and low back conditions, which are required for service connection. His dysthymic disorder was evaluated at 50% based on the severity of symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder disability, low back disability, dysthymic disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- July 9, 2018
- Citation
- 18116958
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 18116958.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that remand is needed for the Veteran's claims due to duty to assist errors, including clarification of periods of service and obtaining relevant records. The Veteran will be afforded new medical examinations for each claimed disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of right shoulder disability and low back disability due to insufficient evidence.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability was granted with an effective date of January 9, 2018. The Board accepted her November 21, 2019 VA Form 20-0996 as a valid opt-in of the April 2019 SOC into the modernized review system.
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