The VA granted service connection for the veteran's right shoulder disability, but denied an increased rating in excess of 20 percent prior to August 11, 2004. The RO also granted a 30 percent rating effective from August 11, 2004.
The deciding factor: The VA found that the veteran's right shoulder disability was manifested by pain, weakness, degenerative arthritis, and some limitation of motion of the right arm prior to August 20, 2001. From August 20, 2001, the disability was characterized by continued complaints of pain with daily flare-ups, aggravated with repeated use; stiffness, weakness, surgical change involving the distal right clavicle, loss of muscle strength, significant impingement by the acromion process, a question of tendonitis versus partial tear, fatigability, and greater than 50 percent limitation of right arm motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 23, 2005
- Citation
- 0534601
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 0534601.
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 claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities are remanded. The claim for sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea) remains denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to establish an in-service event or injury related to his shoulders. The Veteran's current shoulder conditions are not linked to his military service.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to his service-connected TMJ.
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