Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder strain, finding no medical evidence linking the condition to the Veteran's military service or toxic exposure risk activity.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding notification of the Veteran's right to a hearing before the AOJ.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disorder was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right hip strain, shoulder strain, and wrist sprain to the AOJ for additional development.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and left shoulder impingement syndrome were granted increased ratings, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted as secondary to the impact of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board remands the claims for service connection and increased rating due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded several service connection claims.

The Board denied the claims for an increased disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, dismissed the claim for an increased evaluation of left shoulder glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis and service connection for vertigo due to untimely appeals.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD was dismissed, and the appeals for service connection for various conditions were denied. Several claims for increased ratings were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, psychiatric disability, and multiple musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. The Board also denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining supplemental medical opinions to address service connection and aggravation theories.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, granted service connection for musculoskeletal neck/upper back (cervical spine) condition/myofascial pain syndrome and right shoulder disability, and remanded several other claims.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis and in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder osteoarthritis to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for right shoulder disability, obstructive sleep apnea, low back disability, left ear hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, migraine headaches, special monthly compensation based on loss of use of creative organ, and remanded claims for service connection for right wrist, cervical spine, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders to correct duty to assist errors and obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 30, 2020, for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic arthritis of the left-hand long finger but denied earlier effective dates for other claims.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for tension headaches from September 10, 2021, to August 27, 2022, and denied increased ratings for other conditions.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder impingement syndrome and right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis, as the prior VA examination was found inadequate.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, lumbar spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities. The Board also denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, a higher initial rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis, and an earlier effective date for a 50 percent disability rating for schizophrenia. However, the Board granted a 70 percent disability rating from December 14, 2021, for schizophrenia and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and to obtain TERA opinions.