The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left shoulder tendonitis and left elbow bursitis have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of motion in either joint to the levels required for higher ratings.,For the period from August 27, 2020, a compensable rating (10 percent) was granted for limited extension of the left elbow bursitis.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show limitation of motion in either joint to the levels required for higher ratings. The Veteran's functional losses were found to be within the range that warranted a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Codes 5206 and 5207, respectively.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Shoulder Tendonitis, Left Elbow Bursitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2024
- Citation
- 24000689
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,319 · Granted: 25% (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 24000689.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death was cardiopulmonary arrest due to aspiration, and they have found a duty to assist error in their initial decision. They are now requesting a medical opinion to determine if the service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's death.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevents her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and she has met the threshold minimum percentage requirements for a TDIU. Additionally, she is entitled to special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.
- Denied
The Board found no evidence of a chronic left shoulder condition in service or within the presumptive period, and concluded that the current left shoulder tendonitis with arthritis is not related to any incident during service. The Veteran's claim for service connection was denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left elbow bursitis was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of more than 20 percent disability due to limited flexion.
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.