Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and higher initial ratings for psychiatric, left shoulder, right hand tremors, left hand tremors, and allergic rhinitis disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder with anxious distress, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The claims for onychomycosis and tinea pedis, right gastrocnemius tear, right shoulder pain, and TMJ joint pain and dysfunction were remanded.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection due to a regulatory duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for GERD as secondary to the Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus, but denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right ear hearing loss, chronic sinus condition, bilateral hand condition, jaw condition, aortic regurgitation, discoid lupus, residuals of peptic ulcer, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, cervical spine disability, left upper extremity (LUE) radiculopathy secondary to cervical spine disability, and right upper extremity (RUE) radiculopathy secondary to cervical spine disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder strain, left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, left knee minimal degenerative joint disease with patellar tendinitis and bursitis, vertigo, congestive heart failure, and hypertension, to correct duty-to-assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, lower back disability, and left shoulder disability based on evidence of in-service incurrence and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied the petitions to readjudicate the claims for entitlement to service connection for right shoulder calcific tendinitis and hypertrophic changes in acromioclavicular joint and hypertension as there was no new and relevant evidence submitted since the prior denial.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and right shoulder impingement with rotator cuff tendonitis, labral tear and glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis based on a causal relationship to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied service connection for multiple musculoskeletal disabilities, including the left and right shoulders, ankles, knees, elbow, and low back, as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or treatment related to these conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders, including a lumbar spine disorder, left elbow disorder, and others, to correct duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to August 22, 2024.

The Board granted service connection for a right hip disability and remanded claims for service connection for migraines and contusion left calf. Other claims were denied or dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability and denied service connection for right shoulder scars. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the left thumb, a right ankle disorder, and a left ankle disorder were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the claims for lumbar spine, thoracic spine, right hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain and left shoulder impairment, finding that the evidence supports a direct link to the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for cervical intervertebral disc disease, finding that the Veteran's current disability was caused by a motor vehicle accident during military service.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hip, knee, and shoulder conditions, due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability as the evidence did not indicate that the Veteran had a right shoulder disability proximate to or during the pendency of his claim.

The Board remands all claims for service connection to the AOJ for further development, including obtaining relevant VA and private medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities.