The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including labral tear and osteoarthritis of the shoulder joints, was denied service connection due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The Veteran's radiculopathy of both lower extremities was also denied as there were no symptoms that warranted a higher rating.,The left hand disability (other than essential tremor) remains unresolved and requires further examination.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found the right shoulder disability not related to service due to the long gap between service and onset of symptoms, suggesting it was more likely post-service in origin. The Veteran's radiculopathy did not meet criteria for higher ratings as there were no significant sensory or motor changes.,Further examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has a separate hand disability other than essential tremor.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Disability, Left Hand Disability (other than essential tremor)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 25, 2026
- Citation
- A26026977
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 A26026977.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities are remanded. The claim for sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea) remains denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to establish an in-service event or injury related to his shoulders. The Veteran's current shoulder conditions are not linked to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder disability, low back condition, bilateral knee disabilities, and left shoulder strain have been granted service connection. The Veteran's low back condition has been increased to a 40 percent evaluation, while the bilateral knee conditions remain at their current 10 percent evaluations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to his service-connected TMJ.
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