Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal disorders and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right elbow cubital tunnel syndrome, as well as left and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, were denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder strain with a rotator cuff tear and tendonitis is dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability, back disability, right shoulder disability, and right hip disability on a direct basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as remanded several other claims.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the current severity of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board granted the petition to reopen and readjudicate the claim for service connection for a back disorder, as well as granting service connection for a left shoulder disorder.

The Board granted an effective date of November 8, 2020, for the award of service connection for various disabilities including cervical spine stenosis, degenerative arthritis, IVDS status post fusion surgery with residuals, right and left shoulder strains and degenerative arthritis status post joint replacement with residuals, right and left knee strains and degenerative arthritis status post joint replacement with residuals, left hip degenerative arthritis, limitation of extension of the right thigh, limitation of abduction of the right thigh, limitation of extension of the left thigh, and limitation of abduction of the left thigh.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not establish that his service-connected disabilities had precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted the readjudication of the claim for shaving issues/razor bumps and denied service connection for various other conditions, including a neck condition, left shoulder condition, GERD, headaches, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity nerve condition, sleep apnea, urinary frequency, erectile dysfunction, asthma, PTSD, as well as remanding claims for a low back disability, right foot disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, left testicular torsion, and right knee post meniscal tear and patellofemoral pain syndrome. The claim for a left shoulder disorder was remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating during the review period.

The appeal for an evaluation higher than 30 percent for service-connected PTSD was dismissed, and the initial evaluations for hemorrhoids, iron deficiency anemia, and other specified eating disorder were denied. The Board remanded several claims for further development.

The appeal for service connection for a left shoulder disability and status post peritoneal adhesiolysis with resection of the small intestine and large intestine to include appendectomy was dismissed, while the issue of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including left and right hip trochanteric pain syndrome, knee strain and pain due to vitamin D deficiency, shoulder arthritis and rotator cuff injuries, and hand carpal tunnel syndrome and degenerative joint disease. The decision was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, left hip, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities due to duty to assist errors.

The appeal for service connection for hearing loss, abdominal pain, and a left eye disorder was dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement. The appeals for other conditions were denied based on lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Board dismissed all claims for service connection and increased ratings due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, right shoulder, left shoulder, and left knee as well as diabetes mellitus type II due to an untimely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) filed more than one year after the initial denial.