The Board denied service connection for upper trapezium strain of the left shoulder, right shoulder, lumbar spine strain, cervical spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no mention of pain or dysfunction in the Veteran's STRs related to his current claimed disabilities, and concluded that the conditions are less likely caused by the in-service injuries.
- Claimed conditions
- upper trapezium strain of the left shoulder, upper trapezium strain and tendonitis of the right shoulder, lumbar spine strain, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20002679
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.
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The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for further development and consideration of evidence not previously considered.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
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