The Board has granted service connection for bilateral acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tears, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding a finding that these conditions are caused by the Veteran's in-service weightlifting injury.
The deciding factor: The Board found the Veteran's lay statements credible and supported by a service member who witnessed his injury during training, and the opinion of a private examiner linking the current condition to the in-service incident. The VA medical examiner's opinion was discounted due to an inaccurate factual premise regarding continuity of symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- left acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, right acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 22, 2022
- Citation
- 22035843
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 22035843.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability is granted a rating of 40 percent effective August 31, 2018. The right shoulder disability is granted a rating of 40 percent effective August 31, 2018.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis due to stress on his joints from training and parachute jumps during active service. The evidence considered included the Veteran's statements, a private medical opinion, and a buddy statement.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disabilities, and a new VA examination is needed to determine their likely etiology.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis with rotator cuff and labral tears as secondary to his service-connected status-post clavicle fracture. The appeal regarding an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for depression was withdrawn by the Veteran.
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.