The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for left shoulder conditions was proper due to a prior dishonorable discharge, and thus restoration is denied.
The deciding factor: Service connection was granted based on military service, but the character of discharge from December 1986 to August 1988 was under dishonorable conditions, which bars VA benefits. The severance was proper as it was due to a prior error in applying regulatory provisions regarding eligibility for VA benefits.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder glenohumeral joint instability with glenohumeral joint dislocation, scars on the left shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 26, 2020
- Citation
- A20009277
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 A20009277.
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 service connection were granted, but an earlier effective date is denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not submit a formal or informal claim prior to July 11, 2017.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left shoulder labrum tear and scars on the left shoulder was denied as there is no evidence of functional impairment or other disabling effects not provided for by the applicable diagnostic codes.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The claims for increase of the Veteran's service-connected scars on the left shoulder, abdomen, and left knee and upper shin are being remanded to secure additional evidence and arrange an examination to determine their current severity.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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