The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for left and right shoulder strain with degenerative arthritis.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's shoulder disabilities warranted a higher rating than the currently assigned 20 percent under the applicable criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder strain with degenerative arthritis, right shoulder strain with degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 15, 2025
- Citation
- A25052454
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 granted service connection for multiple conditions, including right and left shoulder strains with degenerative arthritis, right and left hip degenerative arthritis, left ankle degenerative arthritis with chronic instability and anterior talofibular ligament strain, cervical spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea, all of which are secondary to service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a retrospective medical opinion to address the Veteran's right shoulder disability without the ameliorative effects of his use of pain medication.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased ratings, granted readjudication on new evidence, and remanded several claims.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and special monthly compensation based on the loss of use of a creative organ, as these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
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