The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for tinnitus and residuals of right-shoulder rotator cuff surgery was granted. Claims for left shoulder condition, disorder manifested by sleep issues, hypertension, radiculopathy of the LLE, radiculopathy of the RLE, lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis, as well as PTSD were denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran submitted new evidence that raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims for tinnitus and residuals of right-shoulder rotator cuff surgery. However, the preponderance of the evidence did not support service connection for the other conditions listed.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"tinnitus","issue_name":"service connection"}, {"condition_name":"residuals of right-shoulder rotator cuff surgery","issue_name":"service connection"}, {"condition_name":"left shoulder condition","issue_name":"service connection"}, {"condition_name":"disorder manifested by sleep issues","issue_name":"service connection"}, {"condition_name":"hypertension","issue_name":"service connection"}, {"condition_name":"radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (LLE)","issue_name":"service connection"}, {"condition_name":"raticulopathy of the right lower extremity (RLE)","issue_name":"service connection"}, {"condition_name":"lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, and spinal stenosis","issue_name":"service connection"}, {"condition_name":"posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)","issue_name":"service connection"}
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20007851
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for sarcoidosis as new and relevant evidence has been received since the previous denial.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a left-hand condition is dismissed as the Veteran was granted service connection for mononeuropathy to the left hand fourth finger with parasthesia of skin in an October 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding their etiology.
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