The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was reopened, and he is now granted secondary service connection for a right shoulder disability due to his cervical spine disability. The rating for ocular rosacea with chronic conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and dry eye syndrome remains at 10 percent. A separate rating of 20 percent is granted for bilateral lacrimal duct disorder. Other issues are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right shoulder disability was found to be secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability based on the VA examiner’s opinion and the Veteran's testimony regarding his symptoms and history.
- Claimed conditions
- low back pain, back injury, lumbar spine injury, right shoulder disability, polyneuropathy, ulnar nerve disability, gastrointestinal disability, headaches, low back disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ocular rosacea with chronic conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and dry eye syndrome, lacrimal duct disorder, flat feet, metatarsalgia, neuritis, osteoarthritis, chondromalacia patella of the left knee, chondromalacia patella of the right knee, scar of the neck, eczema and lipomas (claimed as skin disease and skin infections)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 25, 2018
- Citation
- 18120957
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 18120957.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
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