The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, resolving the benefit of the doubt in favor of the Veteran.
The deciding factor: The limitations documented by the June 2023 VA examiner more closely approximate limitation to midway between the side and shoulder level than limitation to 90 degrees, warranting a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5201.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- March 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25022643
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,677 · Granted: 26% (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 A25022643.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted. The initial rating of 10 percent, but not higher, has been assigned for pulmonary sarcoidosis. Service connection has also been established for migraine headaches, degenerative arthritis in the left knee, right knee disorder (osteoarthritis), right ankle sprain, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, bilateral flat feet, and various foot conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors and inadequate medical opinions. The issues of entitlement to TDIU are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the other claims.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left ankle tibiotalar joint osteoarthritis, right ankle tibiotalar joint osteoarthritis, and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis. The decision is based on the Veteran's competent lay statements, his service treatment records showing bilateral ankle complaints during service in March and April 1997, and a September 2023 private opinion linking these conditions to his active duty.
- Granted
The Board has granted an increased rating to 20 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with arthritis, effective October 26, 2012.
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