The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher evaluation in excess of 20 percent. The Veteran was also denied entitlement to TDIU as his service-connected conditions do not preclude obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed no limitation of motion at the major side level, and the Veteran's symptoms were primarily related to pain rather than functional loss due to weakness, fatigue, lack of endurance, etc. The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s left shoulder flexion was up to 180 degrees, abduction to 90 degrees, external rotation to 90 degrees, and internal rotation to 90 degrees with no additional loss of range of motion after repetitive testing.
- Claimed conditions
- Tendonitis, left shoulder, Adhesive capsulitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 9, 2017
- Citation
- 1751523
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1751523.
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: Denied
The Board denied service connection for congenital absence of bilateral pectoralis major muscles with recurrent dislocations and a bilateral shoulder disorder other than the congenital condition. The Veteran's congenital defect is not subject to service connection, and his non-congenital shoulder conditions did not begin in service or show continuity of symptomatology.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's right shoulder adhesive capsulitis, with history of recurrent dislocation, was found to have at least 50 degrees of abduction and at least 80 degrees of flexion. The Board denied an increased rating for the condition as it did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right shoulder disability, residual scar, and scalp laceration have been denied. The Board found no basis to grant the requested increased ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder strain has been productive of slight limitation of motion, but the Board granted a 10% rating based on pain under 38 C.F.R. § 4.59.
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