The Veteran's current left shoulder disability, identified as left shoulder strain, is not related to service.,The Veteran's current right shoulder disability, identified as right shoulder strain, is not related to service.,The Veteran’s current left hand trigger finger disability is not related to service.,The Veteran’s current right hand trigger finger disability is not related to service.,The Veteran’s current left carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is not related to service.,The Veteran’s current right CTS is not related to service.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence of a diagnosis or treatment for shoulder conditions during service, and the VA examiner found no valid diagnosis in the claims file. The Veteran's lay statements are not competent to provide a nexus opinion.,There is no evidence of a diagnosis or treatment for shoulder conditions during service, and the VA examiner found no valid diagnosis in the claims file. The Veteran's lay statements are not competent to provide a nexus opinion.,There is no evidence of a diagnosis or treatment for trigger finger disabilities during service, and the VA examiner found no valid diagnosis in the claims file. The Veteran's lay statements are not competent to provide a nexus opinion.,There is no evidence of a diagnosis or treatment for trigger finger disabilities during service, and the VA examiner found no valid diagnosis in the claims file. The Veteran's lay statements are not competent to provide a nexus opinion.,There is no evidence of a diagnosis or treatment for CTS during service, and the VA examiner found no valid diagnosis in the claims file. The Veteran's lay statements are not competent to provide a nexus opinion.,There is no evidence of a diagnosis or treatment for CTS during service, and the VA examiner found no valid diagnosis in the claims file. The Veteran's lay statements are not competent to provide a nexus opinion.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, left hand trigger finger, right hand trigger finger, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 9, 2019
- Citation
- 19162019
Veterans Law Judge
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 19162019.
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 Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder strain as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after discharge, and the medical opinion found that his current condition is not related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases due to a duty to assist error, requiring new VA examinations for the appellant's left carpal tunnel syndrome and left wrist osteoarthritis.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's hypertension, left shoulder strain, and right shoulder disability are all granted as service-connected.,The Veteran is also remanded for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and for service connection for sleep apnea.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal as it found that the benefits originally sought have been granted in full, and thus there is no longer a specific error of fact or law to address.
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