The Board denied service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea, and a right shoulder disability due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed stressors in service and absence of documented disability within one year post-service.
The deciding factor: There was no credible supporting evidence that the Veteran's reported stressors occurred during service, and his current disabilities were not shown within one year after separation from active duty.
- Claimed conditions
- Acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, Right rotator cuff tendonitis, Labral tear, including SLAP (Superior labral anterior-posterior lesion) bilaterally with repair in 2015
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20068085
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 is entitled to a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) from June 2, 2010, to March 13, 2014.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was reopened and granted, while the other claims were denied.
- 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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