The Veteran's left shoulder muscle injury and associated musculoskeletal disability have been rated at 20 percent since the appeal period began, with a separate rating of 20 percent for the musculoskeletal disability. The current ratings are based on limitation of motion of the arm.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that the Veteran's left shoulder muscle injury and associated musculoskeletal disability have not resulted in severe impairment or ankylosis, warranting a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5304 and 5201. The current ratings are based on limitation of motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Shoulder Muscle Injury, Musculoskeletal Disability of the Left Shoulder and Arm
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- September 16, 2015
- Citation
- 1539895
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 1539895.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's muscle injury to groups I, II, III, and IV of the left shoulder is already rated as 50 percent disabling due to prosthetic implantation. A separate rating for this condition would result in pyramiding.
- Granted
The Board has granted a higher 20 percent rating for the surgical resection of the left clavicle and awarded an additional 10 percent rating for scars as residuals of the gunshot wound to the left shoulder. The remaining claims for increased ratings are being remanded.
- 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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