The veteran's left shoulder disability was granted a 30 percent evaluation from May 30, 1992 to March 8, 1993 and from November 1, 1993. From July 23, 2002, the veteran is entitled to a 20 percent evaluation for his L5-S1 spondylolisthesis with chronic lower back pain.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed persistent symptoms of chronic pain and recurrent flare-ups in the left shoulder joint, which more nearly approximated limitation of motion of arm motion to 25 degrees from side. The veteran's low back disability was rated based on persistent and ongoing symptoms of pain with intermittent muscle spasm.
- Claimed conditions
- Chondromalacia of the left patella, Chondromalacia of the right patella, L5-S1 spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis with chronic lower back pain, Post-operative residuals of separation of the left acromioclavicular joint (minor)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- March 18, 2003
- Citation
- 0305087
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 999 · Granted: 31% (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 0305087.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective August 30, 2022. The claim for a higher rating remains pending and will be remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 20 percent for moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability. The RO reduced the rating to 10 percent effective January 19, 2021, based on painful motion of the knee under 38 C.F.R. § 4.59. The reduction is granted as it was not proper and void ab initio.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for chondromalacia of the right patella starting from August 13, 2021. He was also granted an initial 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee from February 11, 2011 to October 18, 2019.,The Veteran's recurrent patellar subluxation of the right knee is rated at a 10 percent since May 20, 2016.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU.
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