The Veteran's right shoulder glenohumeral and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis status post rotator cuff repair was reduced from 30 percent to 20 percent effective March 3, 2017. The Board finds that the reduction was improper due to a failure to consider whether there was material improvement in the Veteran's condition and if it would be maintained under ordinary conditions of life and work.
The deciding factor: The RO failed to make findings regarding material improvement and its certainty under ordinary conditions of life and work, as required by VA regulations for reduction cases.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21062959
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,170 · Granted: 38% (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 21062959.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of his hands or feet, nor does he have a severe burn injury. Therefore, he is ineligible for financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment.
- Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder glenohumeral joint and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis resulted in limited range of motion, with abduction limited to 25 degrees from the side. The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for this condition.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, is due to her service and grants service connection for this condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, and the thoracolumbar spine disability is denied for ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to June 20, 2024, and 40 percent as of that date.
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