The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted.,The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a low back disability is granted.,The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a right knee disability is denied.,The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a left knee disability is denied.,The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a respiratory disability (claimed as asthma) is granted.,The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for allergies is denied.
The deciding factor: Evidence received since the December 2003 rating decision includes July 2014 correspondence from the Veteran alleging that his right shoulder disability is secondary to a left shoulder disability, and an October 2017 rating decision which granted service connection for a left shoulder disability; relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability.,Evidence received since December 2003 rating decision includes records of treatment for chronic low back pain; relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for a low back disability.,Evidence received since the December 2003 rating decision does not include new evidence bearing on a nexus between the Veteran’s right knee disability and his active duty service; does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for a right knee disability, and does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating such claim.,Evidence received since the December 2003 rating decision does not include new evidence bearing on a nexus between the Veteran’s left knee disability and his active duty service; does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for a left knee disability, and does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating such claim.,Evidence received since November 1989 rating decision includes records of treatment for asthma; relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for a respiratory disability (claimed as asthma).,Evidence received since December 2003 rating decision does not include new evidence bearing on a nexus between the Veteran’s allergies and his active duty service; does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for allergies, and does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating such claim.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder disability, low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, respiratory disability (claimed as asthma), allergies
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19135405
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,699 · Granted: 17% (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 19135405.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the July 2012 VA examination for the Veteran's left knee disability, and a new addendum opinion is needed.
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