The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his range of motion does not meet criteria for an increased rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s flexion was limited to 80 degrees with pain on movement, which falls within the scope of limitation of motion already assigned (20% under DC 5201).
- Claimed conditions
- shell fragment wound of the left shoulder, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of bilateral shoulders
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 13, 2018
- Citation
- 18157495
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 18157495.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a shell fragment wound of the left shoulder is being remanded due to incomplete development and consideration.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left shoulder, including two or three unremarkable scars in the left shoulder area, were incurred during military service and grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The June 1966 decision assigned a 20 percent rating for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left shoulder, which was upheld as not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.
- Whole decision: Denied
The veteran's claims of increased rating for residuals of a shell fragment wound and service connection for various conditions were denied. The dissecting aortic aneurysm was not found to be related to the service-connected left shoulder disorder, and there is no evidence linking any skin condition or PTSD to active service. Arthritis of the neck was also not linked to service.
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