The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative joint disease and rotator tendinopathy are currently rated at 40 percent, the highest rating available under Diagnostic Code 5201.,The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected right shoulder degenerative joint disease and rotator tendinopathy as his other disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for consideration of an award of TDIU.
The deciding factor: The evidence is at least in equipoise with respect to whether the Veteran's right shoulder degenerative joint disease and rotator cuff tendonitis more closely approximates a 40 percent disability rating, warranting the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 5201 for limitation of motion of the major arm.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder degenerative joint disease, rotator tendinopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- December 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19196765
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,421 · Granted: 31% (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 19196765.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's depression was rated at 50 percent prior to July 1, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. For TDIU, the Veteran had multiple service-connected disabilities but his education and work experience were sufficient for sedentary or light labor employment.
- Dismissed
The appeal to sever service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease is dismissed.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are severe enough to require the aid and attendance of another, effective April 3, 2020. The appeal for SMC based on housebound status is dismissed as moot due to the award of SMC under section 1114(l).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability may have pre-existed service and is requesting further medical opinion to determine if it was aggravated by service. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.