Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for a shoulder disability due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remands and insufficient rationale in the VA examination report.

The Board remands the matter for further development consistent with prior remand directives.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left shoulder disabilities and major depressive disorder were denied. However, the veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities. The Board needs more medical opinions to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's service.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions but remanded the issues of disability ratings for chronic adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed because the veteran requested to withdraw it.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for right shoulder degenerative joint disease was denied. The claims for service connection for a kidney impairment disorder and entitlement to TDIU were remanded.

The Board remanded all issues to correct a duty to assist error. The Veteran will receive VA examinations for his claimed conditions.

The veteran's appeal for an initial rating of 20 percent for a right shoulder disability is granted, effective August 7, 2022.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection of the Veteran's cause of death to obtain additional medical opinions. The Veteran's death certificate indicated suicide by asphyxiation, with contributory factors including prior suicide attempts, suicidal ideations, PTSD, and ADHD.

The veteran's service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted because the condition had its clinical onset during active service.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities but remanded the claims for psychiatric disability and sleep disturbances.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of lower back and right shoulder conditions. The Board found that the examiner's opinions were inadequate because they did not address the veteran's lay statements about injuries during service.

The veteran's claim for service connection of right shoulder dysfunction was granted and remanded. The Board found new evidence warranted readjudication, but the VA examination was inadequate.

The veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified dermatitis and right shoulder disability were granted. The claim for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis was denied, and the claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was remanded.

The Board remanded the case to schedule a VA examination for the veteran's right shoulder disability. The decision is based on the need to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The veteran's service connection for trunk and right underarm scars, and left lower leg scar is granted with an effective date of March 31, 2020. Other claims, including those for head, face, or neck scars, and higher ratings for various conditions, are denied.

The veteran's service connection for several conditions, including left and right knee disabilities, left ankle disability, left foot disability, posttraumatic headaches, TBI, and dental issues, was granted. However, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and higher ratings for other conditions were denied.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for gallbladder removal, ingrown toenail, left knee pain, right knee pain, plantar fasciitis, and right shoulder dislocation. The Board found that the AOJ did not adequately consider the Veteran's statements regarding current symptoms, in-service events/causes, and possible continuity of symptoms.

The veteran's PTSD with TBI was rated at 100% from August 1, 2022 to March 19, 2023. The veteran also qualifies for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound criteria.