Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, and back degeneration due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition was incurred in or caused by his active military service.

The Board granted an increased initial rating of 20 percent disabling for the Veteran's right shoulder, effective November 22, 2011.

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition, a bilateral knee condition, and a back condition based on the Veteran's credible reports of in-service symptoms that persisted post-service.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, a right shoulder disorder, and a right ankle disorder as secondary to lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease with mechanical low back pain due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and a left shoulder disability, but denied service connection for a back disability, skin disorder, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for right upper extremity neuropathy, to include as secondary to a right elbow condition and denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The Board also remanded several claims for further development.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, but denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for femoral nerve radiculopathy and higher ratings for back disability with IVDS and right shoulder disability.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral shoulder strain, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim, due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding aggravation.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability (manifested as plantar fasciitis, hammertoes, and hallux valgus) is service-connected. Bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, disorder of the shoulders, and disability of the left index finger, including trigger finger, as they did not initially manifest during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 21, 2022 for the award of an initial 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but dismissed the claim for service connection for autoimmune arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy, and remanded claims for service connection for a left wrist disability, erectile dysfunction, tension headaches, a left shoulder disability, and left lateral collateral ligament sprain (left ankle disability).

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for various conditions, except for granting earlier effective dates for service connection of left and right shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, but granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection for headaches was granted, while the claims for tinnitus and various musculoskeletal conditions were denied or remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a neck condition, left shoulder condition, right ankle condition, right wrist condition, right knee condition, and facial scars as the evidence did not support the existence of these conditions during or proximate to the claim period.