Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for left and right ankle strain but denied a higher disability rating for insomnia disorder.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for various degenerative arthritic conditions of multiple joints and the lower back, as additional evidence is needed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings or service connection.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to correct duty to assist errors, including obtaining additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and sinusitis due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip, left knee, left shoulder, lumbar spine, and left lower extremity nerve disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection for right knee strain was granted, while his claim for bilateral hearing loss and increased rating of PTSD prior to June 19, 2023, were also granted. Other claims were either denied or remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), all as secondary to the Veteran's already service-connected conditions. The Board also granted a 20 percent rating for right ankle arthritis.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral flat feet and remanded the other issues for further development.

The Veteran's appeal requests for the denial of service connection claims were denied as they were not timely filed.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's neck disability and a 40 percent disability rating for both the back and right shoulder disabilities effective October 17, 2020. The Veteran was also granted a 10 percent disability rating for irritable bowel syndrome effective February 27, 2020.

The Board granted an effective date for TDIU and SMC from September 1, 2017, but denied earlier effective dates for service connection of various conditions. It also granted a 10% rating for GERD starting July 5, 2016, and other ratings as detailed.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for headaches, neck disability, back disability, left knee disability, left shoulder disability, and radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities to correct a duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date prior to May 27, 2022 for the grants of service connection for right shoulder anterior and posterior, linear scars and right wrist cubital tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and reinstatement of a 10 percent disability rating for asthma, as well as a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Board remands the case to the AOJ for adjudication of a claim alleging clear and unmistakable error in a March 2013 rating decision regarding initial ratings for right and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and arthritis, but denied a higher rating for hypertension. The right shoulder disability claim was remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the service connection of PTSD, right and left shoulder disabilities, and neck disability, as well as higher ratings for these conditions and a TDIU.

The Board remands the claims for further development and to ensure that due process is followed, as the previous examinations did not fully comply with VA's duty to assist requirements.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left and right elbow conditions, left and right hip conditions, vision condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than major depressive disorder (MDD), a neck condition, a left shoulder condition, a left ankle condition, a right ankle condition, and a bilateral foot condition were remanded.