The Board granted an effective date of February 15, 2023, for the grant of service connection for right shoulder arthritis and denied a rating higher than 20 percent for left (minor) rotator cuff tendinopathy with degenerative arthritis.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right shoulder disability was determined to be secondary to his left shoulder disability, which caused pain and functional impairment. The current 20 percent rating adequately reflects the Veteran's left shoulder limitation of motion and functional impairment during the relevant period.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder arthritis, left (minor) rotator cuff tendinopathy with degenerative arthritis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 16, 2025
- Citation
- A25052832
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, right hip condition, left hip condition, low back disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as there was no evidence of in-service injury or illness related to these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for a right shoulder injury to the agency of original jurisdiction for an adequate medical opinion that considers relevant lay statements and addresses right shoulder arthritis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right shoulder arthritis and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining claims were remanded to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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.