The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder strain and a right hand disability (trigger finger) as these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service, with any doubt resolved in his favor.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's lay statements regarding injuries sustained during combat in Vietnam were credible. The VA examiner reviewed the claims file and concluded that there was no evidence of right shoulder or right hand disabilities during service, but this opinion was deemed inadequate as it did not consider the Veteran's consistent reports of continuous post-service disability.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder strain, right hand disability (trigger finger)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 1, 2022
- Citation
- 22011668
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 22011668.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder strain as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after discharge, and the medical opinion found that his current condition is not related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for a determination on whether the Veteran's right shoulder strain warrants a compensable disability rating, and if so, what that rating should be.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities, finding that they are related to his active duty service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.