The Board denied service connection for residuals of muscle removal/damage, right side abdomen/stomach with surgical scar removed and transplanted to service-connected left calf.,The Board also denied service connection for a left shoulder condition. The low back condition was remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation.
The deciding factor: There is no current diagnosis of residuals of muscle removal/damage, right side abdomen/stomach with surgical scar removed and transplanted to service-connected left calf.,The January 2017 VA examination found no left shoulder condition. The examiner stated that the Veteran reported subjective pain but there was no medical, clinical, or diagnostic evidence to support a left shoulder diagnosis.,After reviewing all records provided for review, including the Veteran's assertion of altered gait due to his left leg condition, there is no medical, clinical, or significant research evidence to support the contention that the Veteran’s low back condition, diagnosed as multilevel degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, was aggravated by a muscle harvest from the back for use in surgery of the left lower extremity.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder condition, low back condition, residuals of muscle removal/damage, right side abdomen/stomach with surgical scar removed and transplanted to service-connected left calf
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19196651
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,188 · 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 19196651.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his request.,Service connection for a back condition is denied as there is no evidence that the condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of his low back condition, finding that it is related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for sleep apnea and a left shoulder condition due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.
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