Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection for right shoulder ACJ degenerative changes, finding that the evidence does not support an effective date prior to April 28, 2017.

The Board denied the motions to revise on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) for all three rating decisions in question.

The Board denied an effective date earlier than August 12, 2023, for the award of a 20 percent rating for the left shoulder strain.

The Board remands the matter for a new VA examination to evaluate the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder strain, as the previous examination was found inadequate.

The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease, neck trauma, and a right shoulder injury due to lack of evidence showing present disabilities related to service.

The Board remands the claim for service connection of right shoulder mild osteoarthritis with calcified lymph nodes to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding direct service connection and TERA.

The Board denied service connection for most conditions but granted readjudication of the left knee condition due to new and relevant evidence.

The Board granted restoration of the 30 percent rating for left eye optic atrophy with visual defects and denied increased ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions, including hips, back, shoulders, and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including a right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, lumbar spine disability, allergic rhinitis, respiratory disability (claimed as bilateral lungs condition), gastrointestinal disability (claimed as stomach condition), and erectile dysfunction.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and a left shoulder disability, but denied increased ratings for PTSD and TMD, as well as service connections for chronic sinusitis, respiratory insufficiency, dyspnea, CFS, fibromyalgia, dermatitis, functional abdominal pain syndrome, bloating, hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, IBS, and sleep apnea.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression) but denied service connection for arthritis in all joints including neck, back, and shoulder as well as anemia.

The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 40 percent for left shoulder strain and service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral lower extremity sciatica, secondary to the now service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The appeals for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for right and left shoulder conditions, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder were dismissed due to lack of a valid notice of disagreement or new and material evidence within one year of the rating decisions.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's left shoulder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and right hip disabilities but granted a 20 percent rating from December 30, 2023, for right hip osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for obesity, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and left elbow disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, higher ratings, and service connection for various conditions, except for migraine including migraine variants and bilateral pterygium with significant dry eye keratopathy and early senile cataracts which were granted with specific effective dates.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder strain and remanded the claims for left knee disability and low back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service-connected right ankle degenerative arthritis status post ankle fracture, right shoulder status post labrum tear repair, and tinnitus, as there was no prior communication regarding a claim for disability benefits.

The Board denied service connection for left lower extremity (LLE) radicular pain and parasthesia, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ, and noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and a higher rating for special monthly compensation were also denied.

The Board granted service connection and initial disability ratings for the veteran's psychiatric disorder, back disability, bilateral leg radiculopathy, right shoulder, right knee, left ankle, and irritable bowel syndrome.