Veterans’ RightsAn independent resource for veterans
← All decisions
Granted

The Veteran's claim for left clavicle fracture residuals and left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis was reopened, with the former granted based on aggravation of a pre-existing condition. The claim for DM was also reopened, but denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or service-connected conditions.

The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the current left shoulder problems are at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) proximately due to or the result of the Veteran's service. The claim for DM was reopened but denied because there is no evidence linking it to service or service-connected conditions.

Claimed conditions
left clavicle fracture residuals, left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), neck/cervical spine disorder, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (RLE), radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (LLE), prostatitis with erectile dysfunction (ED), loss of use of a creative organ
How they argued it
Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
None in this decision
Decision date
February 14, 2019
Citation
19111638

Veterans Law Judge

BARBARA B. COPELAND

Decisions by this judge: 1,515 · Granted: 20% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)

Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.

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 19111638.

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.

Free starter guide for your own claim

Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.

We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.

We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.

This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.