The Board granted service connection for left and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthritis based on a continuity of symptomatology since active duty, and remanded the claim for cervical degenerative arthritis with DDD and strain to be considered as secondary to the shoulder conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA medical opinion was found inadequate due to its lack of consideration of lay statements and the Veteran's reported symptoms. The Board found credible evidence of a continuity of symptomatology, supporting service connection for both shoulders.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthritis, right shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- March 20, 2025
- Citation
- A25026263
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,316 · Granted: 43% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25026263.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's left shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of flexion and/or abduction limited to 25 degrees from the side.,For her adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, the Veteran's current 70 percent rating is denied. The Board found that she does not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating due to total occupational and social impairment.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to August 20, 2004, for the grants of service connection for left and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthritis and impingement syndrome.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthritis and impingement syndrome, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy. Service connection was denied for migraine headaches.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's left shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthritis, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected lumbar spine disc disease or a strengthening exercise for his back condition.
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