The Veteran's service-connected right and left shoulders have been rated at 20 percent since March 1, 2010. The claims for higher ratings remain denied.,Service connection has not been granted for the Veteran’s thoracic strain and lumbar spondylosis.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Capsulorrhaphy, Left Shoulder Capsulorrhaphy, Thoracic Strain, Lumbar Spondylosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 13, 2019
- Citation
- 19136944
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,680 · 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 19136944.
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: Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for migraines and lumbar spondylosis, granted a 40% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, and granted TDIU and earlier effective dates for special monthly compensation and Dependents' Educational Assistance.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including MDD and lumbar spondylosis, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since October 31, 2016. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU are met on a schedular basis.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to inadequate development of evidence, including the need for retrospective opinions and VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spondylosis, and PTSD with alcohol use disorder are denied. The claim for an increased initial rating for lumbar spondylosis is granted at a 20 percent rating.
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