Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for left and right shoulder osteoarthritis, headaches as secondary to PTSD, but denied aggravation of pre-existing left flat foot. The appeals for right knee and left knee conditions were dismissed.

The appeal for service connection for right shoulder strain has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board remands the claim for a left shoulder condition to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board denied increased evaluations for PTSD, left shoulder strain, lumbosacral strain, radiculopathy of the LLE sciatic nerve, and strains of both knees.

The Board granted earlier effective dates of August 12, 2019, for the awards of service connection for migraines, PTSD, a right shoulder injury, and tinnitus.

The Board remands the claim for further development, specifically to provide the Veteran with a copy of his claims file and any documents responsive to his Privacy Act request.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits was denied because she did not have an employment handicap and was able to obtain suitable employment consistent with her abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability to obtain additional records from the Veteran's private provider.

The Veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder with adjustment disorder and depressed mood is granted a rating of 50 percent, while his bilateral hearing loss is denied a compensable rating.

The Veteran has withdrawn the appeal for service connection claims related to a lumbar spine injury, fibromyalgia, a left shoulder injury, and a cervical spine injury with traumatic arthritis.

The Board grants service connection for a left shoulder disability, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including sleep apnea/sleep disordered breathing (SDB), erectile dysfunction, inflammatory enthesopathy as a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317, and various musculoskeletal conditions affecting the Veteran's hips, knees, hands, shoulders, and feet.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including a right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, heart condition, lung condition, left foot arthritis and bone spurs, right foot arthritis and bone spurs, and left upper extremity cubital tunnel syndrome.

The Board granted service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back and knee conditions, but remanded issues related to earlier effective dates for a disability rating and TDIU.

The Board restored service connection for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, granted service connection for right shoulder strain residuals and left microscopic varicocelectomy residuals, and remanded several other claims including those related to hearing loss, lumbar spine, ankles, sinuses, TDIU, and a higher rating for the existing disability.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and tinnitus due to a need for further development of the record.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all service connection claims.

The Board denied service connection for joint pain not already service-connected, finding no evidence that the Veteran's unspecified joint pains are related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for residuals of left tibia fracture and for residuals of partial undersurface tear due to an impermissible concurrent election in the appeal process.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and traumatic brain injury, but remanded several other claims related to the character of discharge and various medical conditions.