The Board denied service connection for a neck/cervical spine disorder and increased ratings for left and right shoulder bursitis, as well as effective dates prior to August 31, 2015, for the grant of a 20 percent rating for both shoulders.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's neck/cervical spine disorder was etiologically related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability. The shoulder disabilities were primarily manifested by pain and functional limitation, but did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on the applicable rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- neck/cervical spine disorder, left shoulder bursitis, right shoulder bursitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2024
- Citation
- 24004974
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bursitis affecting the Veteran's bilateral ankles, elbows, hips, shoulders, and wrists as there was no evidence of a current disability during the pendency of the appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a sleep condition, left shoulder bursitis, left wrist CTS, right wrist CTS, upper back condition, lower back condition, and right shoulder bursitis as there was no evidence of current disability or nexus to military service.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the left shoulder prior to September 17, 2019, granted a 30 percent rating from September 17, 2019 to December 24, 2019, and denied a higher rating on and after December 24, 2019. The Board also denied service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal for additional evidentiary development, including readjudication of the issues on appeal and AOJ review of newly obtained evidence.
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