The Board found that the veteran's left shoulder disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, and denied his claim for an increased rating. The total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was also denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examination revealed that the veteran’s left shoulder had limited motion but did not preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Dislocation of the left shoulder (minor), Degenerative joint disease of the acromioclavicular joint, Impingement syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 17, 2006
- Citation
- 0601197
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 362 · Granted: 24% (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 0601197.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment due to his right shoulder strain, impingement syndrome, and rotator cuff tendonitis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the appeal for service connection of degenerative joint disease and impingement syndrome affecting both upper extremities due to potential synergistic effects from various exposures, including radiation, asbestos, and chemicals.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability was incurred in or caused by military service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's left shoulder disability, characterized by impingement syndrome, was found to not warrant a higher than 20 percent rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.
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