Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain, lumbosacral strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy but denied a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity as secondary to degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, bilateral spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and left and right shoulder trapezius muscle strain.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's left shoulder condition and granted earlier effective dates of May 13, 2019, for both the service connection of left shoulder condition and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for right elbow, shoulder, and bicep tendon disabilities as well as a compensable rating for the right humerus disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service or the service-connected right humerus.

The Board denied service connection for various claimed conditions, including a neck disorder, low back disorder, shoulder disorders, knee disorder, ankle and foot disorders, skin rash, eye disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disorder, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board remands the claim for a new examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder tendonitis and to provide a retrospective estimate of flare-ups.

The claims for increased ratings for the left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to non-compliance with previous Board directives.

The appeal seeking readjudication of the previously denied claims for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and vertigo, as well as the requests for readjudication of the previously denied claims for a left shoulder disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), erectile dysfunction (ED), bilateral hearing loss, prostate cancer, bilateral eye pseudophakia, sinus disability, emphysema with left lung nodule, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), skin disability, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are dismissed. The request for readjudication of the previously denied claim for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted in part as it was fully resolved by a June 2025 rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist condition, left shoulder condition, and fibromyalgia. The claims for thoracolumbar spine condition, acquired psychiatric condition, right wrist condition, right shoulder condition, and left ankle condition were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist condition, left shoulder condition, and fibromyalgia. The claims for thoracolumbar spine condition, acquired psychiatric condition, right wrist condition, right shoulder condition, and left ankle condition were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist condition, left shoulder condition, and fibromyalgia. The claims for thoracolumbar spine condition, acquired psychiatric condition, right wrist condition, right shoulder condition, and left ankle condition were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist condition, left shoulder condition, and fibromyalgia. The claims for thoracolumbar spine condition, acquired psychiatric condition, right wrist condition, right shoulder condition, and left ankle condition were remanded for further development.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's right shoulder pain with supraspinatus tendon tear and denied higher ratings for bladder incontinence, while remanding claims for service connection for hearing loss, meralgia paresthesia, PTSD, GAD, depressive disorder, and somatic symptom disorder.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and left knee condition to provide the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for various disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability, PTSD, left shoulder disability, hearing loss, depression, insomnia, jaw pain disability, and anxiety. The only issue remanded was entitlement to service connection for right leg nerve damage.

The Board grants service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, finding a nexus to the Veteran's active-duty service.

The appeal for service connection for a left shoulder condition has been withdrawn and dismissed.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder, labral tear, including SLAP (superior labral anterior-posterior lesion), glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis has been withdrawn and dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. It also granted initial ratings for various disabilities including a 20 percent rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis, a 30 percent rating for labral tear, including superior labral anterior-posterior lesion, status post surgical repair, and higher ratings for other conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, right shoulder disorder, headaches, and low back disorder. The Board also denied an increased rating for PTSD with recurrent major depressive disorder, mild, with anxious distress (PTSD) from October 22, 2020 to July 10, 2021.