Service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound (GSW), left shoulder, to include as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is granted. Service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound (GSW), rib disorder and spine disorder are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be at least as likely as not related to his service-connected PTSD, with the exception of the spine disorder which may be aggravated by the GSW.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a gunshot wound (GSW), left shoulder, rib disorder, spine disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 28, 2019
- Citation
- 19166828
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,455 · Granted: 23% (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 19166828.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was submitted to warrant readjudicating the claims for service connection for a spine disorder, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The appeal is granted to this extent only.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders, including a left elbow disorder, spine disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral foot disorder, including pes planus, to schedule VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for rib disorder, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, fibromyalgia, respiratory disorder, skin condition, to include psoriasis, bilateral hand arthritis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and bilateral ulnar neuropathy. However, the claims for service connection for bilateral hand arthritis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral ulnar neuropathy, hypertension, rib disorder, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, fibromyalgia, respiratory disorder, and skin condition, to include psoriasis, have been denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his weight gain and if that contributed to his sleep apnea.
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