The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder degenerative joint disease, intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis of the cervical spine, and residuals, fracture of anterolateral ribs #6 and #7.,All three conditions are found to be related to in-service injuries sustained during active duty.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service treatment records do not document any left shoulder injury or condition. However, the Veteran provided consistent testimony regarding his in-service accident and subsequent chronic pain. The VA examiners have acknowledged this continuity of symptoms since service.,VA examiners have determined that the Veteran's current conditions are less likely related to a single in-service event but more likely due to accumulated injury over time.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Shoulder Degenerative Joint Disease, Intervertebral Disc Syndrome and Spinal Stenosis of the Cervical Spine, Residuals, Fracture of Anterolateral Ribs #6 and #7
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 19, 2022
- Citation
- 22002410
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 22002410.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's left shoulder condition, including degenerative joint disease and a rotator cuff tear, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support an increase in rating beyond this level.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not establish that his service-connected disabilities had precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Granted
The Board has revised the October 2015 rating decision to grant a 30 percent evaluation for left shoulder disability, effective June 24, 2011, based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE).
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left shoulder degenerative joint disease, as well as service connection for tinnitus, were denied. The effective dates for these decisions are July 20, 2016.,It was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's shoulder conditions had increased in severity within a year prior to July 20, 2016.
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