The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his right shoulder degenerative arthritis from April 28, 2011 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s right arm abduction has been limited to at worst 80 degrees since April 28, 2011 and did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. For the TDIU claim, the Veteran's disability picture did not meet the schedular requirements as his combined disability rating was less than 70% when considering both service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence showed that the Veteran’s right shoulder degenerative arthritis had limited motion to at worst 80 degrees and no ankylosis, which did not warrant a higher rating. The TDIU claim failed as his combined disability rating was less than 70% when considering both service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20074063
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.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates related to various left and right hip, knee, shoulder, and other conditions as they were freestanding claims not continuously pursued from the initial rating decisions.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to preclude his participation in any regular substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine. The rating for the Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the right wrist/arm was restored to 20 percent effective June 1, 2024.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation, and the condition did not manifest within one year of discharge.
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