The Board denied service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative arthritis as the evidence did not support a positive nexus between the Veteran's military service and his current shoulder conditions.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed that the first signs of the Veteran's shoulder conditions manifested several years after his separation from service, and there was no credible evidence of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology. The most probative medical opinion found against a positive nexus between the Veteran's military service and his left and right shoulder disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 4, 2025
- Citation
- A25049405
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.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates related to various left and right hip, knee, shoulder, and other conditions as they were freestanding claims not continuously pursued from the initial rating decisions.
- Partly granted
The appeal was denied for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, while other issues were remanded for further evidence and examination.
- Granted
The Board granted the appeals for severance of service connection for neck, left shoulder, and left upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities, as well as entitlement to service connection for headaches.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine. The rating for the Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the right wrist/arm was restored to 20 percent effective June 1, 2024.
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