The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disorder and awarded a temporary total rating based on convalescence following surgery. The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 10 percent, effective June 1, 2014.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established for the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder due to in-service injury and chronic symptoms post-service. The temporary total rating based on convalescence following surgery was granted as the surgery necessitated at least one month of convalescence, per VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease of the Left Shoulder, Low Back Disability (L4-L5 lumbar laminectomy, foraminotomy, and discectomy)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 10, 2018
- Citation
- 1820968
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 1820968.
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.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of evidence. The Veteran is also reminded that he must cooperate with VA by submitting completed forms and providing relevant information.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inconsistencies in the opinions provided by a nurse practitioner regarding the Veteran's flare-ups and their impact on disability ratings.
- Granted
The Veteran's left shoulder disability, which manifested pain at 25 degrees of flexion and abduction, is granted a 30 percent disability rating for the entire initial rating period prior to March 1, 2018.
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