Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea but denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and increased evaluations for upper extremity radiculopathy and right shoulder sprain.

The Board denied entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for gastrointestinal problems and service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the back. The claims for other conditions were remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and bilateral foot disability, but denied service connection for heart condition, hypothyroidism, vision loss, and gout.

The Board denied an initial evaluation higher than 30 percent for service-connected persistent depression with anxious distress and remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions and increased ratings, finding no persuasive evidence linking the Veteran's current conditions to his military service.

The Board granted initial ratings of 30 percent for a service-connected neck condition, 40 percent for a right shoulder condition, and 30 percent for a left shoulder condition, as well as an additional 30 percent for a left knee condition, all effective from January 30, 2018.

The Board remands the claims for further development, specifically to obtain a new examination that complies with Correia v. McDonald and addresses the Veteran's reported flare-ups.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service-connected traumatic brain injury and migraine headaches, but denied a revision of the July 13, 2011, rating decision that granted compensation for left shoulder condition at 10 percent disabling based on clear and unmistakable error. The Board also granted an increased disability evaluation to 40 percent for the period on appeal for service-connected traumatic brain injury.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for asthma, but remanded the issues of service connection for a right shoulder disability and cervical strain.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right hand, bilateral foot, low back, right knee and right shoulder disorders due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including right knee, left knee, left arm and shoulder, degenerative disc disease with back pain, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease/heart disability, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee and service connection for a right shoulder disability, but remanded the claim for vertigo.

The Veteran withdrew the issues on appeal, and the Board dismissed the case.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and left shoulder disability, but remanded claims for a right clavicle disability, left elbow disability, right hand disability, and right shoulder disability due to new evidence being received.

The appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was denied as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating. The Board also remanded several service connection claims.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder condition as secondary to the service-connected right shoulder labral tear and remanded claims for service connection for left elbow, right elbow, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis conditions.

The Board granted service connection for tinea unguium and denied the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, a dental disability (tooth #8) for compensation purposes, as well as effective dates earlier than April 6, 2023, for the grant of service connection for sinusitis, rhinitis, GERD, and PTSD. The Board also denied compensable ratings for sinusitis, a rating in excess of 10 percent for rhinitis, a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD, and a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Board granted service connection for left knee tendonitis/tendonosis with knee meniscal tear and cartilage fissuring chondrosis, but denied service connection for the other claimed conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right shoulder conditions to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as the current VA examiners' opinions are inadequate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence to establish a link between the condition and military service.