{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/shoulder-impairment-secondary-to-back","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:23.710Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"claim":"Shoulder impairment secondary to a back condition","secondary_condition":"Shoulder impairment","service_connected_disability":"a back condition","decisions":661,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":7.1,"denied_pct":21.8,"remanded_pct":70.8,"granted_on_merits_pct":24.6,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":52,"granted_pct":3.8,"denied_pct":32.7,"remanded_pct":61.5},{"year":2018,"issues":71,"granted_pct":4.2,"denied_pct":29.6,"remanded_pct":66.2},{"year":2019,"issues":67,"granted_pct":0,"denied_pct":16.4,"remanded_pct":83.6},{"year":2020,"issues":106,"granted_pct":5.7,"denied_pct":21.7,"remanded_pct":72.6},{"year":2021,"issues":98,"granted_pct":2,"denied_pct":19.4,"remanded_pct":78.6},{"year":2022,"issues":109,"granted_pct":10.1,"denied_pct":14.7,"remanded_pct":75.2},{"year":2023,"issues":123,"granted_pct":8.1,"denied_pct":20.3,"remanded_pct":69.9},{"year":2024,"issues":107,"granted_pct":11.2,"denied_pct":21.5,"remanded_pct":67.3},{"year":2025,"issues":101,"granted_pct":8.9,"denied_pct":20.8,"remanded_pct":70.3}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":76.6,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":51,"granted_pct_with":76.2,"granted_pct_without":18.2},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":533,"granted_pct_with":21.6,"granted_pct_without":45.8},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":63,"granted_pct_with":75,"granted_pct_without":16},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":444,"granted_pct_with":21.1,"granted_pct_without":36.4},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":159,"granted_pct_with":39.7,"granted_pct_without":17.2},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":535,"granted_pct_with":22.2,"granted_pct_without":41.7}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":6},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":5},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":5},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":3},{"reason":"favorable finding of current left shoulder disability","decisions":3},{"reason":"va opinion inadequate for failing to address lay statements, conflicting evidence, aggravation, and rationale","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":37},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":25},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":16},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":14},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":12},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":12}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"26000561","year":2026,"judge":"RYAN T. KESSEL","rationale":"Aggravated by service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity conditions; Use of a cane necessitated by service-connected conditions; Service connection granted"},{"case_id":"A25107163","year":2025,"judge":"GAYLE STROMMEN","rationale":"Current left shoulder disability diagnosed as degenerative arthritis with impingement syndrome.; Aggravated by service-connected lumbar disability due to sleeping position.; VA examiner's opinion inadequate for failing to address aggravation."},{"case_id":"A25101754","year":2025,"judge":"T. RAYMOND","rationale":"Favorable finding of current right shoulder disability.; Favorable finding of service-connected lumbosacral strain.; VA examiner opined disability was at least as likely as not related to service-connected lumbosacral strain.; Benefit of the doubt resolved in Veteran's favor."}],"denied":[{"case_id":"26004509","year":2026,"judge":"ERIC S. LEBOFF","rationale":"No in-service complaints or diagnoses for left shoulder disability.; No medical opinion linking current disability to service or service-connected lumbosacral strain.; Veteran's lay statement regarding onset outweighed by lack of medical evidence."},{"case_id":"26004050","year":2026,"judge":"H. SEESEL","rationale":"Claim for left shoulder condition is secondary to claimed back disability.; Service connection for back disability was denied.; No primary disability exists to support secondary service connection."},{"case_id":"26000715","year":2026,"judge":"LAURA E. COLLINS","rationale":"No competent or probative nexus evidence; No approximate balance of evidence; Claim denied"}]},"how_argued":{"note":"From keyword matches in each issue's AI summary and rationale, not the full decision. Only issues whose text names a medical link are counted under pathways; one issue can name several. A link named in a denial was often the argument the Board rejected.","issues":847,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":391,"granted_pct":3.6},"causation_only":{"issues":456,"granted_pct":9.2},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":10.2,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Nerve involvement","issues":54,"granted_pct":9.3,"examples":[{"case_id":"25013549","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy"},{"case_id":"23015636","year":2023,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"Negative VA exam findings for radiculopathy."}]},{"pathway":"Altered gait or overuse","issues":19,"granted_pct":10.5,"examples":[{"case_id":"25013549","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"VA examiner opined condition associated with overuse and likely caused by brace use"},{"case_id":"18109768","year":2018,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"A VA reviewer opined it was less likely than not that the service-connected back disability caused or aggravated the bilateral shoulder disability, citing anatomical and biomechanical disconnects."}]},{"pathway":"Chronic pain","issues":14,"granted_pct":7.1,"examples":[{"case_id":"24018413","year":2024,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Veteran's lay statements regarding IED blast and persistent pain found credible."},{"case_id":"A20017862","year":2020,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The Veteran claimed service connection for right shoulder strain and impingement syndrome, also referred to as chronic pain, alleging it was secondary to service-connected lumbar spondylosis."}]}]},"how_va_rates":null,"requirements":"38 CFR 3.310: a current diagnosis, a service-connected disability, and medical evidence that it caused (3.310(a)) or aggravated (3.310(b)) the condition."}}