The veteran's left shoulder disability, rated as 20 percent disabling, was denied a higher rating due to the limitation of motion not meeting criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.
The deciding factor: The range of motion of the veteran's left shoulder has been limited to 140 degrees with pain beginning at 90 degrees, which does not warrant a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 5201. The evidence does not show that the limitation of motion has ever been limited to midway between side and shoulder level.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 23, 2009
- Citation
- 0902516
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,458 · 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 0902516.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for his shoulder and lumbar spine conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including various musculoskeletal conditions and mental health disorders.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance from November 15, 2021, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him bedridden or in need of regular aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand, knee, and left shoulder disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to obtain an adequate nexus opinion as to whether these conditions are related to or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability.
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