The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for her right shoulder disability and left rotator cuff tear with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis have been denied. The initial rating for the right shoulder disability remains at 20 percent, while a higher rating is not warranted. For the left shoulder disability after July 7, 2010, the Veteran's current 20 percent rating remains unchanged.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support an increased rating based on the severity of the Veteran’s symptoms or functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Disability, Left Rotator Cuff Tear with Acromioclavicular Joint Osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 28, 2018
- Citation
- 18161191
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 18161191.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70% rating for PTSD from November 25, 2015 to August 12, 2024 and a 40% rating for the right shoulder disability. It also granted 10% ratings for both feet and 20% ratings for knee patellofemoral pain syndromes.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including PTSD, IBS, cardiac arrhythmia, CFS, chronic headaches, chronic sinusitis, dyspnea, and fibromyalgia. The claim for bilateral pes planus was remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The character of the appellant's uncharacterized discharge is not a bar to the receipt of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits; to this extent only, the claim is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist.
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