The Veteran's left shoulder AC joint osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tear, and tendonitis were granted service connection as secondary to his right shoulder disability. The Veteran was also granted an initial 60 percent rating for GERD.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's left shoulder conditions are caused by his service-connected right shoulder condition, and the reasonable doubt created by this relative equipoise in the evidence must be resolved in favor of the Veteran. For GERD, the symptoms more nearly approximate those for a 60 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder AC joint osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tear, tendonitis, gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- March 11, 2025
- Citation
- A25022413
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, including bicipital tendon tear, rotator cuff tear, and tendinosis, as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or chronicity of symptoms to support a direct link between the current condition and active duty.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the appeal to the agency of original jurisdiction for a medical opinion on the nature and etiology of any right shoulder disorder.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for shin splints, tendonitis, headaches, and sleep apnea as there was no evidence of current disabilities related to the appellant's military service.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for GERD and various increased rating claims while granting a 30% disability evaluation for IBS with constipation, an effective date of November 12, 2021, for the award of a 20% rating for right shoulder instability, and a 10% rating for painful motion of the right knee.
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