The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his left shoulder disability and right ear hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5201.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, healed non-displaced fracture of the humerus greater tuberosity
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 1, 2024
- Citation
- A24071218
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 124 · Granted: 45% (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 A24071218.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury. The evidence shows a present disability and service incurrence of an injury, with continuity of symptomatology post-service.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis and rhomboid strain, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of lumbosacral strain and left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis is remanded due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ must obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's right knee replacement and left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis have been granted service connection, with the Board finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that these conditions are related to his military service.
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