The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating. The evidence shows significant functional impairment due to pain and limited motion, but no additional limitation of function beyond what is already contemplated by the current 30 percent evaluation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been shown to be productive of significant functional impairment, including limitations in range of motion and strength. However, these findings are consistent with a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5201 for limitation of motion of the major arm to a point midway between the side and shoulder level.
- Claimed conditions
- post-operative right shoulder injury residuals with traumatic arthritis, full thickness supraspinatus tendon tear, infraspinatus tendon tear, distal clavicle fracture, acromioclavicular (AC) joint separation
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 15, 2015
- Citation
- 1552487
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1552487.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right shoulder strain and AC joint separation was dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the issue.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder degenerative changes is a current disability and was incurred in service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor. The decision grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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