Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a neck condition, right shoulder condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition, to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. The claims were also remanded for further development regarding a right wrist disability and a right shoulder disability.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for TMD and denied a compensable rating for tension headaches, while granting service connection for respiratory disorder, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss (denied), among other conditions.

The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD, effective September 30, 2020. The appeal for an increased rating for the left shoulder midclavicular fracture was denied.

The Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain with IVDS, status post microdiscectomy from February 1, 2014, to March 22, 2023, and a 40 percent rating for right shoulder impingement syndrome (to include rotator cuff tear).

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the left shoulder prior to September 17, 2019, granted a 30 percent rating from September 17, 2019 to December 24, 2019, and denied a higher rating on and after December 24, 2019. The Board also denied service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board remands the claim for a right shoulder disability to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, specifically regarding an adequate medical opinion on both direct service connection and secondary service connection.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied increased ratings for existing conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability as there was no evidence of a current disability during the appeal period or proximate thereto.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder AC joint osteoarthritis and denied initial disability ratings in excess of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve.

The Board is remanding the case to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the recoupment of disability compensation due to receipt of Special Separation Benefits.

The Board granted service connection for left knee, right knee, right shoulder, and back disabilities but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's four left shoulder post-surgical scars are granted a 20 percent rating, but no higher. The remaining claims for increased ratings are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities resulted in the need for aid and attendance as he requires care or assistance on a regular basis to feed himself, keep himself clean and presentable and protect himself from the hazards or dangers inherent in his daily environment.

The Board granted service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, but denied service connection for left shoulder pain, eye pain, and a higher rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia on a presumptive basis, but denied higher initial ratings for PTSD, left shoulder disability (surgical scars), bilateral hearing loss, and remanded several other claims.

The Board remands the claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors made by the AOJ.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating and an earlier effective date for his left shoulder disability, as well as service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for a left shoulder disorder, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, elbow, and ankle disabilities for further development.