The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his left shoulder disability and PTSD has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the left shoulder disability, as it was limited to work that does not require overhead or repetitive movement. For PTSD, the symptoms were considered to be at the level required for a 50 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms, while significant, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any Diagnostic Code due to their similarity to those associated with a 50 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder disability, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20066807
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 17, 2022, for the grant of service connection for PTSD.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected PTSD during a Board hearing, and the appeal is therefore dismissed.
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