The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder disorder, finding that a 20 percent evaluation was appropriate based on persistent pain, stiffness, and limitation of motion.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed significant functional impairment with limited range of motion and persistent pain in the right shoulder, warranting a 20 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5203 for traumatic arthritis and associated limitations.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder fragment wounds, traumatic arthritis, rotator cuff repair
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 11, 2003
- Citation
- 0304346
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,582 · Granted: 32% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0304346.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating for service-connected right ankle with traumatic arthritis (claimed as right ankle instability). The Board dismissed the appeal.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating higher than 20% for his left shoulder disability, stating that the evidence did not support a higher rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for cervical strain, and denied service connection for various shoulder disabilities, radiculopathy, lower back injury, GERD, and IBS.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's left hip disability is currently rated noncompensable due to painful motion but not showing flexion limited to 45 degrees or less. The Board has remanded the claims for GERD and a right hip disability.
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