Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome with rectal bleeding (IBS), a left hip condition with pain, a right hip condition with pain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, a left shoulder condition with pain, and a right shoulder condition with pain.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, left knee condition, right knee condition, and TBI. The claims for a low back condition, right shoulder condition, and tendonitis were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left foot, back, and right and left shoulder disabilities to allow for further development of the record.

The Board remands the case for further development to ensure compliance with VA's duty to assist, specifically regarding the failure to obtain outstanding private treatment records.

The Board remands the claims for further development to ensure that VA substantially complies with its duty to assist the Veteran.

The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for right shoulder glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis prior to March 25, 2022, and the claims for increased ratings for recurrent dislocation and total arthroplasty were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left foot osteoarthritis, a left shoulder condition, and a right shoulder condition to allow for additional development, including new examinations with the Veteran's participation.

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, and cervical strain, and increased the rating for lumbosacral strain to 40 percent. The claim for a higher rating for the right knee was remanded.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain and left shoulder disability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and denied higher ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including mental disability, headaches, radiculopathy, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left shoulder.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and higher ratings, except for right lower extremity radiculopathy which was granted an effective date of October 24, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for TMJ dysfunction with pain and remanded the claims for psychiatric disability, rectal disability, left knee disability, and right shoulder disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for insomnia disorder, cervical strain, and left shoulder strain. The reduction of the right shoulder strain rating from 30% to 20% was deemed proper.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder degenerative changes, left shoulder degenerative changes, neck disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and left hand arthritis as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including left elbow strain, right elbow strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, left hip strain, right hip strain, left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, left upper extremity nerve disability secondary to cervical strain, obstructive sleep apnea, and a cardiac disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for tinnitus, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, and left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition, right hip condition, left shoulder condition, and cervical spine condition based on the evidence being in approximate balance as to whether these conditions are due to service.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, dermatitis of bilateral shoulders, actinic keratosis (claimed as psoriasis), multiple lipomas, fibrous papule of the right thigh, and left upper extremity scar secondary to lipomas. Several claims were remanded.

The Veteran's right knee instability has been granted an initial rating of 20 percent, and the claims for service connection for arthritis, a left foot condition, a left knee condition, a left shoulder condition, and a right shoulder condition have been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and dismissed the appeals for service connection for tinnitus, a cervical spine disability, left and right hip disabilities, and a right shoulder disability due to untimely notice of disagreement.