Shoulder decisions — 2025

The appeal for several conditions, including insomnia, hypertension, and various disabilities, was dismissed due to procedural issues.

The veteran's appeal was denied as the Board Appeal request was not timely filed within one year of the rating decisions issued on August 17, 2022, November 16, 2022, July 7, 2023, November 3, 2023, December 12, 2023, and March 14, 2024.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including a low back disability, facial scars, GERD, hypertension, nerve disorders of the lower extremities, shoulder disabilities, OSA, TMJ, tooth disorder, and voiding dysfunction, as there was no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for the Veteran's left shoulder surgery scars, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board granted an effective date of March 16, 2023, for ratings ranging from 10 to 50 percent for various service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for tension headaches and eye surgery, granted a 10 percent evaluation for the right leg scar, and remanded several other issues related to service connection.

The Board granted service connection for low back disability, bilateral lower extremity sciatica, and right shoulder strain based on the Veteran's credible lay statements and medical evidence.

The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's degenerative spondylosis at L5-S1, left and right shoulder disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, and depressive disorder.

The Board granted service connection for herpes (cold sores) and denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, a back disability, left knee pain, left shoulder disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, right lower extremity restless leg syndrome, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left and right hand essential tremors, seborrheic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hemorrhoids, right upper extremity radiculopathy, erectile dysfunction, and an increased rating for a psychiatric condition.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, a left knee disorder, and migraines to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the motions for revision of the July 2015 rating decision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) to assign higher disability ratings for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, right shoulder, and right elbow disabilities.

The appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for bilateral shoulder strain, bilateral shin splints, cervical strain, bilateral knee strain, and bilateral flat feet (pes planus) is dismissed.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no substitute has been filed within the required timeframe.

The Board granted a higher rating of 30 percent for right shoulder arthritis effective February 1, 2024, and denied ratings higher than 20 percent for left shoulder arthritis, higher than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease, higher than 10 percent for right knee limitation of flexion, higher than 10 percent for right knee instability, and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD.

The veteran withdrew all pending appeals before the Board promulgated a decision.

The Board granted service connection for a right hip sprain and initial disability ratings of 40 percent for right shoulder degenerative joint disease, 40 percent for right elbow epicondylitis, 20 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease, and 20 percent for right ankle degenerative disc disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology in service and no evidence linking the current disability to an in-service event.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder arthritis, left shoulder tendinitis, right shoulder arthritis, right shoulder contusion, neck disability (cervical spine stenosis, degenerative changes, degenerative disc disease and spondylosis), right upper extremity tremors, and left upper extremity tremors as they were not etiologically related to service.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, and left shoulder disability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a total disability based on individual unemployability, special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance, SMC based on housebound status, and service connection for vertigo.