The Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative joint disease is rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that this rating does not adequately represent the severity of his condition.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and gallbladder removal are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board determined that these ratings do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.,The Veteran's cluster headaches have been rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over several months.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not show that the Veteran’s right shoulder adduction and flexion were consistently limited to midway between his side and shoulder level. The VA examinations indicated that the Veteran's symptoms, while present, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 5201.
- Claimed conditions
- Right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative joint disease, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Cluster headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19193275
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,677 · Granted: 26% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19193275.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, right hand, and GERD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities during service.
- Denied
The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back condition and sinusitis, respectively.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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