The Board denied service connection for congenital absence of bilateral pectoralis major muscles with recurrent dislocations and a bilateral shoulder disorder other than the congenital condition. The Veteran's congenital defect is not subject to service connection, and his non-congenital shoulder conditions did not begin in service or show continuity of symptomatology.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's congenital absence of bilateral pectoralis major muscles with recurrent dislocations was a congenital defect rather than a disease, and thus not subject to service connection. The non-congenital shoulder conditions were not shown to have begun in service or show continuity of symptomatology.
- Claimed conditions
- Congenital absence of bilateral pectoralis major muscles with recurrent dislocations, Arthritis, Bursitis, Adhesive capsulitis, Tendinopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 4, 2020
- Citation
- 20071248
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 20071248.
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: Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder disability, which includes strain, tendonitis, and bursitis, has been rated at a minimum of 20 percent since August 20, 2008. The effective date for this rating is set to that date.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in previous examinations, requiring additional information on right shoulder ROM measurements without medication effects.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a medical examination for his sleep apnea claim. The right knee disability rating issue remains denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's disability ratings for low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been reduced from 40% and 10%, respectively, to 20% and 0%. The reduction was based on improvements shown in recent VA examinations.
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