Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for left and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthritis based on a continuity of symptomatology since active duty, and remanded the claim for cervical degenerative arthritis with DDD and strain to be considered as secondary to the shoulder conditions.

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disorders as there was no evidence of onset during active service, no diagnosis within one year post-service, and no nexus to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he has additional disabilities that meet the criteria for a TDIU. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for various service-connected conditions, including lumbar strain, plantar fasciitis, pes cavus, tinea versicolor, right shoulder strain, and tinnitus.

The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD but denied a higher rating, and also denied an increased rating for tinnitus. The claim for service connection for the right shoulder condition was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as a suicide attempt), and left shoulder disability. The claim for COPD/emphysema was remanded.

The Board remands the appeal to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and obtain an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder nerve impairment.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left ankle joint pain, right ankle joint pain, left hip joint pain, left shoulder joint pain, right shoulder joint pain, and tinnitus to correct pre-decisional errors in the duty to assist.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and back pains and arthritis.

The Board remands the claims for a left shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, and headaches to obtain additional medical evidence. The right knee and left knee claims are denied.

The Board is remanding the claims for a cervical spine condition and right shoulder condition to secure an addendum medical opinion addressing the likely etiology of these conditions, as the previous examination did not adequately address relevant service medical records.

The Board remands the matter for an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's right shoulder disorder is related to service or his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding no credible evidence of an in-service injury or that the current condition is related to military service.

The Board granted the restoration of a 30 percent rating for the service-connected right shoulder disability, effective from November 29, 2022, due to an inadequate VA examination that did not provide range of motion measurements in weight-bearing or non-weight-bearing.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right shoulder disorder as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or etiological relationship to the Veteran's service.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, vertigo, and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, as there was no evidence of onset in service or a relationship to service.

The Board granted the restoration of a 10 percent rating for seborrheic dermatitis, and granted effective dates of July 16, 2021 or August 20, 2021 for several other conditions, while denying earlier effective dates for some.

The Board remands the claims for service connection of bilateral shoulder disabilities due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including an inadequate VA examination and failure to obtain relevant private medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder as there was no current diagnosis of such a condition during or after his military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right shoulder disabilities and remanded claims for service connection for residuals of a stroke, an acquired psychiatric disability, and headaches.