Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding the propriety of severance of service connection for tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, and right shoulder strain as these issues were reinstated. The appeal for costochondritis was denied due to a lack of evidence linking the condition to active duty.

The Board granted service connection for multiple orthopedic disabilities related to injuries sustained while wrestling in service.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and remanded claims for higher disability ratings, etiological opinions, and TDIU.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected tension headaches, finding that his symptoms nearly approximate a 10 percent rating. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a left shoulder disability due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher disability ratings for lumbosacral strain, left shoulder strain, and right shoulder strain.

The Board granted service connection for migraines, a low back disorder, a neck disorder, and bilateral shoulder disorders based on the Veteran's credible statements about chronic symptoms during active duty.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for a dental condition and remanded claims for service connection for hepatitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a left shoulder condition.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder disability based on the evidence showing limitation of flexion and abduction less than 90 degrees but more than 45 degrees.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities to correct the pre-decisional duty to assist error and to obtain an adequate VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for further development, specifically to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the VA exercised the appropriate degree of care during the Veteran's October 2022 right shoulder surgery and subsequent treatments.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including hyperlipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver, dizziness, left shoulder pains, and others, as additional development is necessary to address pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder or right arm disability and a right hand disability, as the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities upon which to predicate a grant of service connection.

The Board denied the claims for earlier effective dates for posttraumatic stress disorder and left inguinal hernia, but granted an effective date of October 11, 2019, for right shoulder impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendinitis. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, acquired psychiatric disorder, and hypertension disabilities as there was no credible evidence that the conditions began during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for generalized anxiety disorder, denied compensable ratings for external hemorrhoids and sinusitis, granted service connection for migraine headaches secondary to sinusitis, and granted service connection for left foot and left shoulder conditions. The claims for increased ratings for urethral stricture, lumbosacral strain, and ulnar neuropathy were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for a right shoulder disability to ensure an adequate medical examination is conducted.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for back condition, left elbow, neck condition, and right shoulder as further development is needed.

The Board granted an effective date of December 15, 2017, for a 20 percent disability rating for the right shoulder.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a left wrist injury, left calf scar, and right elbow lateral epicondylitis. The claims for residuals of a left calf injury and left shoulder impingement syndrome were remanded.