Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and left shoulder disability to obtain an adequate examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for right knee strain and service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back pain, left shoulder pain, right shoulder pain, and a surgery scar on the lumbar region.

The Board granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and remanded claims for multiple joint pain in the shoulders, hips, feet, and neck.

The appeal for service connection for various conditions was dismissed due to the Veteran submitting the NOD more than one year after the rating decision and not requesting an extension.

The Board granted service connection for dermatosis and denied the claims for service connection for a chronic cervicothoracic pain disability, right shoulder disability, PTSD, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, ED, sleep apnea, left ulnar pain, right ulnar pain, left ring finger disability, right ankle surgery residuals with residual status post achilles enthesophyte excision, left knee disability, right knee disability, right wrist strain, and headaches.

The Board granted service connection for dermatosis and denied the claims for service connection for a chronic cervicothoracic pain disability, right shoulder disability, PTSD, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, ED, sleep apnea, left ulnar pain, right ulnar pain, left ring finger disability, right ankle surgery residuals with residual status post achilles enthesophyte excision, left knee disability, right knee disability, right wrist strain, and headaches.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence to support a diagnosis or onset of the claimed conditions during active duty.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain, bilateral tinnitus, generalized anxiety disorder (to include depressive disorder due to medical condition), and left foot tinea pedis. The Board also granted a 20 percent evaluation for the left shoulder strain but denied service connection for right lateral lower extremity radiculopathy and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeals for service connection and rating claims, and they are hereby dismissed.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder due to new and relevant evidence that was not previously part of the record.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder with depression (GAD), and a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae. The claims for service connection for chronic left knee pain, chronic right knee pain, low back pain, neurogenic erectile dysfunction, onychomycosis, and pain and dysfunction of the right shoulder were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for sinus, headache, right shoulder, left knee, and obstructive sleep apnea disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding of current diagnoses or a link to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral degenerative hip disability, chronic chest pain, left shoulder disability, and lumbar back pain as the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities related to active military service.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a 30 percent disability rating for bilateral pes planus. The claims for increased ratings for right hip degenerative arthritis and femoral acetabular impingement syndrome, lumbosacral strain, and service connection for radiculopathy were denied.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and higher ratings for various disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, residual surgical scar of the right shoulder, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with depressive disorder, left foot plantar fasciitis with pes planus and metatarsalgia, fracture of the left ankle, and residuals, fracture, left third metacarpal/long finger.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied an initial compensable rating for right knee arthritis with patellar subluxation, but granted a 30 percent initial rating for right knee arthritis with painful motion, limitation of flexion. The claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for somatic symptom disorder, left knee osteoarthritis, and headaches. The Veteran was also granted increased ratings of 20 percent for degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine and 40 percent for status post ligament damage and acromioclavicular repair of the right shoulder with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and acromioclavicular joint degenerative joint disease.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to correct duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's additional left shoulder disability was proximately caused by treatment at a VA facility, and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is granted.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis, granted a separate 20 percent rating for right knee instability from September 29, 2011, and granted an initial 10 percent rating for vertigo from the same date. The Board also denied service connection for restrictive lung disease, hypertension, cardiac muscle damage, testicular and groin pain, neck disability, back disability, right hand disability, right elbow disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability.