The Veteran's appeal is denied for the reduction of his left shoulder rating and granted for a higher initial rating for his headache disorder. The remaining issues are not addressed due to lack of specific claims.
The deciding factor: The reduction was improper as there was no actual improvement in the condition, while the headaches were found to be very frequent and prostrating with severe economic impact.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, headache disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- March 15, 2018
- Citation
- 1815345
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 1815345.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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 new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disorder and headache disorder, and thus these claims are remanded for readjudication.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for persistent depressive disorder has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for conjunctivitis and headache disorder, both of which are directly related to service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury. The evidence shows a present disability and service incurrence of an injury, with continuity of symptomatology post-service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain a VA examination for his claimed headache disorder, which may be related to his service-connected chronic bilateral cerumen impaction.
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