The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder bicipital and rotator cuff tendonitis with rotator cuff tear and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, as well as left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis. The decision also noted that the Veteran's bilateral hip condition was remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.,The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current shoulder conditions or hip condition to his active service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that there is no documentation of any shoulder related complaint or condition in service, and given the prevalence of AC joint arthritis in the Veteran's age group regardless of other factors, it is less likely than not that the Veteran has a shoulder condition (bilateral) due to or the result of an event, condition, or treatment in service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Bicipital and Rotator Cuff Tendonitis with Rotator Cuff Tear and Acromioclavicular Joint Osteoarthritis, Left Shoulder Acromioclavicular Joint Osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 23, 2026
- Citation
- A26016035
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 A26016035.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability was not incurred as a result of active duty service and is not presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for service connection for the left knee disability is being remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is characterized by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, but has not shown total occupational and social impairment. The claim for a higher evaluation for PTSD is granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his left shoulder disabilities was granted, with a 20 percent rating maintained for both conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.