Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and a right shoulder disability as the evidence did not support a diagnosis of these conditions during or proximate to the appeal period. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities, including right ankle, left ankle, right shoulder, left shoulder, right wrist, left wrist, and respiratory disabilities, as there was no evidence of current disability.

The Board denied service connection for obesity, a left shoulder disability, hypertension, lung scarring, a right-hand disability, and a left foot disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for a back condition and neck condition, and denied the claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for PTSD, and remanded other increased rating claims.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety, depression, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, low back disorder, bilateral foot condition, and right shoulder condition as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, back, shoulder, elbow, wrist, vertigo, and hypothyroidism, as there was no evidence of an in-service event, injury, illness, or disease related to these disabilities. The claim for a sleep apnea disability was also denied due to the lack of a current diagnosis.

The appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder was dismissed due to an untimely Notice of Disagreement and lack of a proper claim.

The Board granted service connection for left ankle collateral ligament sprain and left shoulder strain with an effective date of February 2, 2020. Service connection was also granted for headaches. The Board denied earlier effective dates for bilateral shin splints and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, but granted a 10 percent rating for bilateral shin splints.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates, service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, and higher ratings for various disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the condition and his active military service.

The Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating for five painful scars and a total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) from November 25, 2020. Other claims were denied.

The Board granted service connection for a left shoulder disability based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's current condition is related to an in-service injury.

The Board remands the appeal to the RO for a more adequate VA examination that includes weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing range of motion assessments, as well as an assessment of flare-ups without medication.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for status post right shoulder surgery (humerus, other impairment of) and an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for status post right shoulder surgery (major) (painful motion) to obtain a supplemental medical opinion that addresses the severity of the Veteran's right shoulder without the ameliorative effects of his medication.

The Board granted service connection for low back degenerative disc disease (DDD) with spondylosis, a post-surgical low back scar, and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities. It also granted an increased rating of 30 percent for cervical spine disc protrusions.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for increased rating for his service-connected low back and left shoulder disabilities, as the earliest possible assignable effective date was September 26, 2003.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection for various disabilities, including the right knee strain, left hip, left knee, left shoulder, back, right shoulder, and right hip.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the claims for left shoulder strain, left wrist sprain, overuse disorder of the left-hand ring finger, and right hand ring finger due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.