The Veteran's left arm/hand numbness is granted service connection. The Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty is granted a rating of 60 percent during specific periods. The Veteran's initial rating for his left shoulder degenerative joint disease is denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's left shoulder degenerative joint disease proximately caused his left arm/hand numbness, resolving all doubts in favor of the claimant.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Arm/Hand Numbness, Right Knee Total Arthroplasty, Left Shoulder Degenerative Joint Disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- July 19, 2023
- Citation
- 23039636
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 23039636.
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 left shoulder condition, including degenerative joint disease and a rotator cuff tear, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the evidence does not support an increase in rating beyond this level.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not establish that his service-connected disabilities had precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Granted
The Board has revised the October 2015 rating decision to grant a 30 percent evaluation for left shoulder disability, effective June 24, 2011, based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE).
- Denied
The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating, and he is capable of performing substantially gainful employment.
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.