The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including degenerative arthritis and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, is related to his service in the Airborne units where he performed many jumps. Service connection for this condition is granted.,While the Veteran has a history of sinus symptoms, no current diagnosis of a separate sinus condition other than vasomotor rhinitis was found during the pendency of the claim. Therefore, service connection for a sinus condition (other than service-connected vasomotor rhinitis) is denied.,There are no scars on the Veteran's trunk as diagnosed or noted in his medical records. Service connection for a trunk scar is denied.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with bilateral knee scars during the pendency of the claim, and these were not related to service.
The deciding factor: Service connection was granted based on the February 2018 VA examiner's opinion that the current left shoulder disability is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service due to repetitive mechanical stress from jumping out of airplanes.,The March 2018 VA examiner found no evidence linking the Veteran's sinus condition (other than vasomotor rhinitis) to his honorable period of service. The September 2019 and February 2020 VA examiners also did not find a current diagnosis of a separate sinus condition other than vasomotor rhinitis.,The absence of any scars on the Veteran's trunk in his medical records, including those from his dishonorable period of service, precludes finding that he has a current disability for which service connection can be granted. The VA treatment records and multiple VA examinations are silent regarding any scars on his trunk.,Service connection was denied because there is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's bilateral knee scars to his honorable period of service. The March 2018 VA examiner noted that the Veteran's service record did not show complaints, findings, or diagnosis involving knee scars while in service.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Shoulder Disability, Sinus Condition (other than service-connected vasomotor rhinitis), Trunk Scar, Left Knee Scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2024
- Citation
- A24028824
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 A24028824.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities are remanded. The claim for sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea) remains denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date before April 1, 2018 for a 20% rating for left shoulder disability was denied. The appeal also resulted in the assignment of a 20% rating from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018, and a TDIU granted from April 1, 2018 to September 3, 2025.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to establish an in-service event or injury related to his shoulders. The Veteran's current shoulder conditions are not linked to his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total rating for his left shoulder disability, finding that he did not require convalescence beyond August 31, 2011 following his surgery.
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