The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tear and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis are secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disorders, thus granting service connection for these conditions.
The deciding factor: The opinion of Dr. C.J.C., a private chiropractor, supported by physical evaluation of the Veteran's pain and ROM in the February 2017 VA examination, provided sufficient medical evidence linking the Veteran’s right shoulder disorders to his service-connected left shoulder disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 6, 2020
- Citation
- 20000513
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea, left shoulder bicipital tendon tear, hypogonadism, erectile dysfunction, and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The claims for increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis with facet arthropathy and lumbosacral strain, right hip strain with osteoarthritis, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (to include iliotibial band syndrome), and chronic right wrist sprain were denied. The Board also granted an effective date of July 7, 2023 for the award of increased ratings.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple musculoskeletal conditions and a psychiatric condition, all of which were determined to be caused by an in-service injury.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right shoulder rotator cuff tears due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's complete service treatment records.
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