The Veteran's service connection claim for a right shoulder disability other than the residual foreign body in his axilla is denied. However, he was granted service connection for the residual foreign body in his right axilla.
The deciding factor: The Board found that while there were no chronic symptoms of arthritis during service and no continuous symptoms since service, the Veteran's lay account of a right shoulder injury due to being hit by a mortar round during combat service is sufficient to establish service incurrence. The current foreign body in his axilla was related to the shrapnel wound he sustained during service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Arthritis, Residual Foreign Body in Right Axilla
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2023
- Citation
- 23005859
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 23005859.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions at the time of the June and August 2025 decisions. The cases will be returned to the AOJ for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error in the initial disability rating for right shoulder arthritis. The Veteran needs an addendum medical opinion regarding additional lost range of motion during painful flare-ups.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic in-service injury or disease leading to arthritis and strain. The Board also found that continuity of symptomatology since service could not be established.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and posttraumatic stress disorder, but granted an effective date of February 4, 2024, for a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD.
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