The Veteran's glenohumeral joint instability with chronic left shoulder strain is not entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent, but he is granted an initial 20 percent rating for limitation of motion effective October 21, 2011.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a higher rating as the Veteran's disability only manifests with painful limitation of motion and does not meet the criteria for more significant impairment such as fibrous union or loss of head.
- Claimed conditions
- glenohumeral joint instability, chronic left shoulder strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19147963
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,480 · Granted: 26% (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 19147963.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left shoulder degenerative joint disease with glenohumeral joint instability was denied as his disability did not more nearly approximate limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain an opinion regarding direct service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder condition. The Veteran seeks service connection based on his in-service injury during PT.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain with bicipital tendonitis, rotator cuff tendonitis, glenohumeral joint instability, and degenerative arthritis as a direct result of an in-service injury.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for left knee tendonitis/tendinosis and chronic left shoulder strain, but granted a 100 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with major depressive disorder (MDD) prior to January 5, 2021.
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