The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his postoperative left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or functional loss due to pain.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence demonstrated that the veteran experienced pain with range of motion but was still able to abduct and flex/elevate his left shoulder to at least 90 degrees. There was no objective evidence of weakened movement, premature or excess fatigability, incoordination, or significant functional loss.
- Claimed conditions
- postoperative left shoulder disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 30, 2003
- Citation
- 0310388
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,669 · Granted: 23% (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 0310388.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
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- Remanded (sent back)
The veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and compliance with current notification requirements.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability, service connection for a low back disability, and service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee. The RO found that there was no exceptional or unusual nature to the veteran's left shoulder disability warranting extraschedular consideration, and did not find any evidence of a current low back disability or osteoarthritis of the left knee.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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