Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, left shoulder disability, and left shoulder scar due to duty to assist errors.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection for right and left shoulder strains at 20 percent, and right and left ankle strains at 10 percent, all effective February 6, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and a right shoulder disability as the evidence did not support that these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, namely unspecified depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, but denied increased ratings for left shoulder glenohumeral joint dislocation and obstructive sleep apnea. The claim for chronic headaches was remanded.

The Board granted increased ratings of 20 percent for right and left knee limited flexion, a 40 percent rating for the low back condition, and a 30 percent rating for right shoulder strain, all effective June 23, 2023.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back disorder, muscle pain affecting the back, left shoulder disorder, muscle pain affecting the left shoulder, and headaches due to incomplete service records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including neck, low back, hand, shoulder, knee, wrist, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, hemorrhoids, psychiatric disorder, toenail fungus, hearing loss, and migraines, as there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease, healed fracture of the left 2nd toe, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection, as well as awards of special monthly compensation and Dependents' Educational Assistance.

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

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including right and left shoulder pain, nephrolithiasis, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and upper extremity radiculopathy. The claims were not granted.

The Board granted an effective date of August 6, 2021, but no earlier, for the award of a 10 percent rating for right hip strain, impairment of the thigh. Other claims were denied.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left shoulder injury, right knee injury, and bilateral flatfeet to obtain outstanding treatment records and military personnel records as well as VA examinations and opinions.

The Board granted a clothing allowance for the use of a lumbar spine brace and crutches, but denied allowances for right knee brace, left ankle brace, and capsaicin cream.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and initial rating claims due to untimely filings, except for chronic sinusitis which was granted on a direct basis.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder condition, variously diagnosed as shoulder strain, mild rotator cuff tendinosis, Hill-Sachs deformity with mild marrow edema, and mild acromioclavicular joint degenerative changes, based on the Veteran's in-service repetitive use during his active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and right hand scar, but denied service connection for other claimed conditions including diabetes type II, erectile dysfunction, headaches, heart disease, obstructive sleep apnea, left shoulder injury, left hand injury, lower back injury, right shoulder injury, upper back injury, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board remands the case to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the failure to obtain relevant VA and private treatment records.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, left ankle disability, and right elbow disability after new evidence was submitted. The claim for a right shoulder disability was denied. Various knee and scar ratings were either granted or denied.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 100 percent for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, persistent, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and neck pain were remanded.