Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint degenerative joint disease with impingement syndrome, finding it related to the Veteran's service.

The Board granted increased ratings and service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder tendinopathy, migraines, pain and dysfunction in multiple joints, and major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and hypertensive heart disease, both on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. The claims for increased ratings for the right and left shoulder conditions were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for hypertension, service connection for right and left shoulder osteoarthritis, and dismissed his appeal for service connection for a left deltoid disorder.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral shoulders, and right knee disabilities due to inextricable interwoven issues.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities and left hip disability, as well as a compensable rating of 30 percent for headaches and frontal sinusitis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all service connection and rating claims.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings and service connection, granted service connection for headaches but remanded several other claims.

The Board denied service connection for rotator cuff tendonitis, left shoulder; lumbar spine condition; and bilateral hand condition as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including tinnitus, headaches, and various musculoskeletal issues, as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to an injury or disease incurred during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including spondylolisthesis or segmental instability (DJD spondylolisthesis L-5 S1), radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, paralysis of the ulnar nerve, acromioclavicular joint arthritis, left ankle tendonitis, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral feet with plantar fasciitis, fibromyalgia, pituitary macroadenoma, diabetes mellitus type II, and renal failure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition (rotator cuff tear) as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or that the current condition is related to service.

The Board granted service connection for sinusitis and depressive disorder, but denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, right leg shin splints, left leg shin splints, a higher rating for the right knee, and other conditions. The decision was based on the evidence of record.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine condition and left knee condition, while denying service connection for costochondritis, dizziness, right foot condition, sleep apnea, a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis with calcific tendinopathy, supraspinatus tendon status-post acromioplasty/distal clavicle excision, and a compensable rating for scar of right shoulder. The initial rating for PTSD was denied.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for all service connection claims, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review these issues.

The appeal for service connection for 14 issues, including hearing loss, tinnitus, neck pain, and others, was dismissed due to a procedural defect in the docketing of the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a muscle and joint condition, and a left shoulder condition.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability, left foot disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and neck disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for back, bilateral shoulder, and obstructive sleep apnea disabilities due to outstanding records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for chronic bronchitis with asthma and denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the left shoulder disability.