The Veteran's right shoulder strain is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,For PTSD prior to May 30, 2019, the Veteran's symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a 100% disability rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not show that the Veteran’s right shoulder strain causes limitation of motion at shoulder level or midway between side and shoulder. The VA examiners noted suboptimal effort during testing, and the Veteran's reports of flare-ups do not result in more than limited motion.,The Veteran's symptoms from August 7, 2013 to January 19, 2016, and March 31, 2016 to May 30, 2019 did not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating as they were less severe, frequent, and of shorter duration than those required.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Strain, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20055544
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 20055544.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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