The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 10 percent since the onset of his service-connected condition. Effective November 17, 2009, and continuing to August 5, 2010, a temporary total evaluation was granted due to hospitalization for his shoulder condition. Since then, the Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 10 percent.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence shows that prior to November 17, 2009, the Veteran had no more than subjective complaints of weakness, stiffness and painful motion with objective evidence of motion above 90 degrees (shoulder level). From November 17, 2009, to August 5, 2010, his shoulder disability was manifested by limited abduction to 90 degrees. Since then, the Veteran's left shoulder has not been shown to be limited to less than shoulder level motion.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 20, 2016
- Citation
- 1629014
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 1629014.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his left shoulder rotator cuff tear is granted, with the effective date set at January 17, 2020.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there are duty to assist errors and the case is remanded for further development, including obtaining STRs from the Veteran's Reserve units and medical records from his private providers.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remanded the claims for further development. The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left shoulder rotator cuff tears are being returned to the AOJ for additional consideration.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD symptoms were found to have approximated total occupational and social impairment from June 15, 2020. The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 15, 2020 for a one hundred percent rating of PTSD. The claim of service connection for left shoulder disability is remanded due to the need for additional evidence.
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