The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that there is no credible or probative evidence to suggest that his current condition began in service and has continued since then.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that it is less likely than not that the Veteran’s left shoulder disability is related to service, based on the absence of chronic disease shown during service and post-service medical records showing no complaints or treatment for many years after service.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Shoulder Degenerative Joint Disease, Left Rotator Cuff Tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 28, 2019
- Citation
- 19123263
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,435 · Granted: 22% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19123263.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's left shoulder condition, including degenerative joint disease and a rotator cuff tear, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support an increase in rating beyond this level.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not establish that his service-connected disabilities had precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity disabilities due to a 2017 fall.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has revised the October 2015 rating decision to grant a 30 percent evaluation for left shoulder disability, effective June 24, 2011, based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE).
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.