The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected shrapnel wound of the left shoulder with degenerative joint disease and PTSD, as there is no more than moderately severe impairment in motion or occupational impairment.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations did not show any more than moderate impairment in range of motion or functional loss due to pain, weakness, fatigue, or lack of endurance. The veteran's PTSD symptoms were also rated based on the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale, which was assigned a score of 60.
- Claimed conditions
- shrapnel wound of the left shoulder with degenerative joint disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- October 10, 2002
- Citation
- 0214081
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 0214081.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include unspecified depressive disorder with social anxiety disorder and PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for PTSD to be readjudicated on the merits due to new and relevant evidence.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to or caused by the Veteran's military service.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied, except for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability which were granted. The veteran was also granted service connection for hypertension.
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