Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the Veteran had disabling hearing loss as set forth by VA regulations during the period on appeal.

The Board granted an initial rating of 30 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae, but denied increased ratings for right knee strain, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, and left varicocele. The claim for special monthly compensation was also denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and back disability as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the range of motion limitations and other factors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder as new and relevant evidence has been received.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for atrial fibrillation, a left shoulder condition, and a cyst condition to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and a rating increase due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including right hip disorder, genitourinary disorders, loss of sense of smell, and others, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service or toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied entitlement to a disability rating for the Veteran's right shoulder disability in excess of 20 percent prior to October 21, 2016, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter.

The appeal for an earlier effective date prior to April 22, 2016 for TDIU and the claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for a right shoulder disability and an effective date prior to April 22, 2016 for a 30 percent rating for a right shoulder disability were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, to include a left rotator cuff tear, as the evidence did not support a finding that the condition had its onset in service or was otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder tendinitis and remanded claims for service connection for left knee arthralgia and cervical strain.

The Board remands the claims for a left shoulder condition and a left knee condition to correct duty to assist errors, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder and left knee conditions are aggravated by their service-connected right shoulder and right knee disabilities.

The Board granted readjudication of service connection for right and left elbow, right and left shoulder, low back, and right knee disabilities based on new and relevant evidence but remanded the same issues for further development.

The appeal was dismissed due to an impermissible concurrent election of review options under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the veteran's left shoulder and right ankle conditions, but granted a separate 20 percent rating for impairment of the right humerus associated with the right shoulder condition.

The Board granted service connection for a left clavicle disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition began during his active military service and has persisted since then.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.

The Veteran's left finger condition, to include a ring-finger scar, is granted due to an etiological relationship with his service. Other claims for service connection are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, including perifollicular ingrown hairs, mixed hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, type II, kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, gout, and hypertension. However, it remanded claims for readjudication of right shoulder strain/pain, right knee pain, swollen joints in the right lower extremity, lumbar spine disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.