Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board denied increased ratings for cervical strain, lumbar strain, and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder as the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Board granted service connection for joint pain in the hands, knees, right shoulder, and left elbow based on presumptive service connection due to the Veteran's Southwest Asia service.

The Board remands the claim for a left shoulder disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing direct service connection, as the previous opinions were found inadequate due to reliance on the absence of contemporaneous medical records and failure to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding possible onset during service.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back, left shoulder, right shoulder, left arm nerve, and sleep apnea disabilities due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, a mid/lower back disability, a right knee disability, a neck disability, a left shoulder disability, a left hip disability, a right hip disability, and migraine headaches.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and a TDIU due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and right shoulder disability to cure pre-decisional errors in VA's duty to assist the Veteran.

The veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and multiple musculoskeletal disorders.

The Board granted service connection for a right hip condition, a right shoulder condition, and a right wrist condition, all related to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of November 2, 2022, but not earlier, for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted. The claims for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and bilateral knee disabilities are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including allergic rhinitis, TMJ, cervical strain, and others, to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the April 2024 rating decision on appeal.

The Board remands the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to a duty to assist error in the prior VA examination.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to a lack of proper notice and scheduling of VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back and right shoulder disability as further development is needed to obtain complete service personnel and treatment records, and an examination with medical nexus opinion.

The Board remands the claim for a higher rating in excess of 20 percent for a right shoulder condition, to include residuals of a right shoulder surgery, due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board remands the claims for further development of evidence, including obtaining private treatment records.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability due to an incomplete record and the need for additional evidence.

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD, granted a TDIU from December 3, 2020, and denied service connection for various conditions.

The Board granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease other than IVDS and remanded the claims for left shoulder degenerative arthritis, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, a bilateral ankle disorder, and a bilateral finger disorder.

The appeal regarding the eligibility to direct payment of attorney fees is remanded for corrective notice due to errors in the May 2024 fee decision.