The Veteran's left shoulder disability is characterized by pain and limited motion, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to ankylosis or other specific limitations. The current 20% rating remains appropriate.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran’s left shoulder has some limitation of motion, but no evidence of ankylosis or other specific functional loss sufficient to warrant a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Shoulder Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19194292
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 19194292.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a low back disability, a left knee disability, and a left shoulder disability as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and higher initial ratings for psychiatric, left shoulder, right hand tremors, left hand tremors, and allergic rhinitis disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating of 50 percent from July 28, 2023. Other claims for increased ratings were denied.
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