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
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
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matters for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting VA examinations.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the claims for an initial compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss, service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, and a left eye disorder. However, it granted service connection for a back disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities as secondary to the back disability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, arthritis of the cervical spine, cervical radiculopathy of the left arm, back disability, left elbow condition, left shoulder condition, left wrist condition, left hand condition, hypertension, and an initial rating of 10 percent for coronary arteriosclerosis prior to September 24, 2024.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection for a facial injury, head injury, and left thumb injury as there was no evidence of current disability or functional impairment. The claims for GERD, squamous mucosa, migraine headaches, and hypertension were remanded for further development.
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