The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder rotator cuff tear and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD). The right shoulder condition is related to the Veteran's in-service combat injury, while his psychiatric symptoms do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tear was related to an in-service incident involving an improvised explosive device (IED), and thus granted service connection. However, there is no formal diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder, preventing service connection for PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- Right shoulder rotator cuff tear, Acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19131348
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,604 · Granted: 65% (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 19131348.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless that he needed regular aid and attendance. The criteria for SMC at the housebound rate have also not been met.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD; left shoulder disability; and right shoulder disability. The Veteran did not meet the current disability requirement or provide sufficient evidence to support a link between his military service and these conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tear is granted as service connected, with the Board finding a causal link between his in-service injury and current symptoms.
- Denied
The Board denied increased evaluations for asthma, PTSD with sleep deprivation, and right shoulder rotator cuff tear. The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for high blood pressure and TDIU was remanded.
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