The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, and the left ankle disability remains at 10 percent. The decision also denies a rating in excess of 10 percent for the left ankle.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s left shoulder abduction was not limited to midway between side and shoulder level, which is required for a higher 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5201. For the left ankle, the examination showed moderate limited motion but no marked limitation as required for a higher 20 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendinopathy, left lateral collateral ligament sprain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19132587
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,242 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19132587.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Dismissed
The appeal of the May 6, 2025, rating decision that proposed to sever service connection for a left lateral collateral ligament sprain is dismissed.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and examinations.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, post-operative residuals of cervical spine surgery, L5 bilateral spondylosis with grade 1 anterolisthesis, moderate-severe foraminal stenosis, left hip osteoarthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, left lateral collateral ligament sprain, pes planus, and type II diabetes mellitus. The service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed migraine headaches, left knee strain, right knee strain, left lateral collateral ligament sprain, and right lateral collateral ligament sprain as they are proximately due to his service-connected tinnitus and bilateral flat feet respectively.
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