The Board denied service connection for a shrapnel wound of the back and an increased rating for left shoulder degenerative changes. The Veteran's claims were not granted as there was no evidence to support separate service connection for the back injury, and his current disability ratings are appropriate based on the severity of his left shoulder condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the shrapnel wound of the back is already part of a service-connected left shoulder disorder, thus precluding separate compensation. The increased rating claim was also denied as the Veteran's current disability ratings were deemed sufficient for his left shoulder condition.
- Claimed conditions
- shrapnel wound of the back, left shoulder degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 14, 2019
- Citation
- 19118371
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,500 · Granted: 29% (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 19118371.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative changes, left shoulder degenerative changes, lumbar spine degenerative changes, and right shoulder osteoarthritis due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran was not afforded VA examinations for these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right shoulder degenerative changes, left shoulder degenerative changes, neck disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and left hand arthritis as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, other than strain, is proximately due to his service-connected knee disabilities and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for VR&E benefits, other than employment services, to include training in pursuit of a career as an attorney. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his vocational goal.
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