Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability for further development, including an addendum medical opinion and potentially a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a rib deformity, and remanded the claims for left (minor) shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and bilateral hip disorders due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for multiple joint arthritis and neuropathy to obtain a clarifying medical opinion regarding their etiology, specifically addressing presumed herbicide agent exposure during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected left shoulder disability did not meet the schedular requirements and there was insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for L4-L5 space narrowing degenerative arthritis prior to January 14, 2025, and denied higher ratings for the other conditions.

The Board granted an effective date of February 29, 2024, for the award of increased ratings for cervical strain, right shoulder strain, bilateral pes planus with bilateral metatarsalgia, left knee strain, and common headaches.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a recurrent right shoulder disability, a recurrent left shoulder disability, and a recurrent left knee disability to be further evaluated with additional medical evidence.

The Board denied higher initial disability ratings for the service-connected psychiatric and shoulder disabilities, but granted a TDIU from March 23, 2020.

The appeal was granted for service connection of renal cell carcinoma, chronic depression or dysthymia, and PTSD. The claims for earlier effective dates were denied.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder and elbow injuries due to a lack of evidence linking them to the Veteran's military service, and remanded the claim for lumbar spine injury for further development.

The Board remands the claims for a left shoulder condition and an undiagnosed illness causing body pain to correct deficiencies in the VA examinations.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for the low-back condition and 50 percent for sinusitis, while denying increased ratings for the right-shoulder strain and service connection for left-leg radiculopathy, right-leg radiculopathy, and headache condition.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining outstanding private treatment records and a VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's insomnia.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) based on the evidence of record.

The Board dismissed all claims for higher initial ratings and service connection, as the Veteran requested a higher-level review of these issues in May 2024 but then appealed to the Board in August 2024, leading to concurrent review which is not allowed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background.

The Board remands the claims for additional development as the opinions of record were not entirely adequate to decide the claim.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder conditions, as well as special monthly compensation based on the housebound rate prior to December 3, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and separation with traumatic arthritis, as the evidence showed that the condition was limited to flexion and/or abduction, limited to 120 degrees or less.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left hip disorders, right shoulder impingement, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with spinal stenosis and bulging disc. However, a 10 percent rating was granted from April 1, 2024, for both hips based on painful motion.