The Veteran's bilateral shoulder strain, lumbosacral strain, right knee disability (including right knee strain, degenerative arthritis, and medial compartment narrowing), and left knee strain were all granted service connection. The Veteran's clavicular pain was denied as there is no current diagnosis.,Acne vulgaris was also granted service connection.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran had a history of shoulder strain noted in his separation examination, and provided evidence to support this finding. For lumbosacral strain, the examiner concluded it was as least as likely as not incurred in or caused by service based on medical records from the separation examination. The right knee disability (including right knee strain, degenerative arthritis, and medial compartment narrowing) was granted because the Veteran had a history of injury during service and continued symptoms post-service. For left knee strain, the examiner concluded it was proximately due to or the result of the right knee condition based on medical records from the separation examination. Acne vulgaris was granted as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it pre-existed service.,The decision was based on the Veteran's history of injury during service and continued symptoms post-service, with a focus on establishing a link between service and current conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral shoulder strain, clavicular pain, lumbosacral strain, right knee disability, left knee strain, acne vulgaris
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 22, 2018
- Citation
- 18143931
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 18143931.
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 appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for shin splints, right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), stomach disability, and left ear hearing loss due to errors in providing notice of the right to a hearing.
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