The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service-connected right shoulder, left shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities, as the evidence showed that these conditions arose on December 21, 2016.

The deciding factor: The claim was not supported by language indicating intent to seek service connection for the specific disabilities in question prior to the December 21, 2016, date of receipt of a formal claim.

Claimed conditions

right shoulder impingement syndrome, bicipital tendonitis and bursitis (dominant), left shoulder impingement syndrome, bicipital tendonitis, rotator cuff tendonitis, bursitis, and osteoarthritis, cervical spine degenerative joint and disc disease

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 7, 2025

Citation

A25086725

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine