The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right rotator cuff tear, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and military service or any service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found no medical nexus between the Veteran's current right rotator cuff tear and either his military service or any service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Right rotator cuff tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20074039
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,549 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20074039.
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 right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20% under the old rating criteria. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination and determine the current severity of the service-connected condition without considering any ameliorative effects of medication.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's right shoulder disability, specifically his right rotator cuff tear, is rated at 30 percent since December 2013. The Board found that the evidence does not show a limitation of motion to 25 degrees from side during any part of the appeal period.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right rotator cuff tear and glenohumeral joint instability are rated at 20 percent effective December 22, 2021.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because he has a 100% schedular rating for ischemic heart disease and SMC benefits based on statutory housebound status due to other service-connected disabilities, rendering the TDIU claim moot.
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