The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder condition, finding that the evidence does not support a nexus between current conditions and service.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not provide a positive nexus opinion connecting the current left shoulder conditions to the Veteran's service.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Shoulder Arthralgia, Left Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2020
- Citation
- 20000429
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's left shoulder rotator cuff tear is granted an increased rating of 30 percent, effective January 27, 2015. The claim for service connection for bipolar disorder has been reopened and remains pending.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability is granted, and a compensable rating for the surgical scar is also granted. The issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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