The Board has determined that the veteran's neurological impairment of left thoracic outlet syndrome, status post resection of first rib, does not warrant a higher rating than 40 percent. The left shoulder strain, minor extremity, is also rated at 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show any additional functional loss or impairment beyond what was already established by the current 40 and 30 percent ratings.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Shoulder Strain, Neurological Impairment of Left Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 5, 2005
- Citation
- 0500268
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 541 · 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 0500268.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder disability, low back condition, bilateral knee disabilities, and left shoulder strain have been granted service connection. The Veteran's low back condition has been increased to a 40 percent evaluation, while the bilateral knee conditions remain at their current 10 percent evaluations.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder strain and assigned a 20% rating effective March 16, 2023. The appellant is eligible to the direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the November 2023 rating decision.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left shoulder strains, finding that the current ratings of 20% are appropriate based on limited motion in both shoulders.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder strain, right knee strain, and left knee strain (claimed as sprain) due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during active military service or are related to an in-service injury.
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