The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including arthritis and a previous shoulder replacement surgery, is rated at 20 percent since February 25, 2009. Since September 15, 2014, the rating has been increased to 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed that the Veteran's right shoulder motion was limited to 85 degrees in September 2014 and 90 degrees in July 2015. The examiner considered this limitation as being commensurate with a 30% rating, which is the maximum available for limitation of arm motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Arthritis, Right Shoulder Hemiarthroplasty
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 30, 2015
- Citation
- 1554346
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 1554346.
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 Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions at the time of the June and August 2025 decisions. The cases will be returned to the AOJ for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error in the initial disability rating for right shoulder arthritis. The Veteran needs an addendum medical opinion regarding additional lost range of motion during painful flare-ups.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic in-service injury or disease leading to arthritis and strain. The Board also found that continuity of symptomatology since service could not be established.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and posttraumatic stress disorder, but granted an effective date of February 4, 2024, for a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD.
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