The Board remands the claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for left rotator cuff tendonitis and in excess of 10 percent prior to May 15, 2024, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for left knee osteoarthritis due to a need for additional medical evidence.

The deciding factor: The Board is obligated to discount the beneficial effects of medications taken for each disability and evaluate the baseline severity without pain medication, which was not adequately addressed by the previous examinations.

Claimed conditions

left rotator cuff tendonitis, residual of collarbone fracture, left knee osteoarthritis

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

December 3, 2025

Citation

A25103828

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine