Shoulder decisions — 2025

The Board denied service connection for obesity and denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and ratings for posttraumatic stress disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, delusional disorder paranoid type, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis status post left shoulder slap bicep tendonitis (non-dominant), and left knee strain. However, it granted an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for left knee strain.

The Board remands the matter for an adequate examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disability.

The Board granted service connection for a chronic cervical spine disability and a chronic left shoulder disability, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was dismissed, while the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities were granted. The other claims were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of gunshot wound (GSW) residuals involving muscle group II of the right shoulder girdle and GSW residuals involving muscle group XXII of the right front neck, as the July 16, 2019 VA examination was the first to document injuries to these specific muscle groups.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder strain, right knee strain, and migraine including migraine variants. The claim for an initial disability rating of 30 percent for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis was also granted.

The Board granted service connection for major depressive disorder with anxious distress as due to the Veteran's service-connected left hip labral tear with strain and trochanteric pain syndrome, but denied service connection for thoracic spine scoliosis, bilateral hallux valgus, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), left knee strain with patellar tendinitis, and left shoulder strain.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for a left shoulder disability, psychiatric disability (anxiety), and plantar fasciitis due to procedural errors in the filing of the Veteran's notices of disagreement and concurrent elections.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and TDIU, as well as a claim for SMC.

The Board granted service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome with chronic pain as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder impingement syndrome, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension was granted with an effective date of August 10, 2022, but a compensable rating was denied. Several claims for service connection were remanded.

The Veteran withdrew appeals for service connection of multiple conditions, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

The Board denied increased evaluations for shin splints and left index finger laceration but granted a 20% evaluation for the left shoulder strain. The Board also denied increased evaluations for adjustment disorder before January 27, 2021, and after that date.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a bilateral shoulder rash, finding that the PACT Act's effective date of August 10, 2022, is the earliest possible date.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for right and left shoulder strain, finding that February 7, 2022 is the earliest possible effective date.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including the right and left hip, ankle, and flatfoot conditions due to insufficient evidence of current disability. The claims for shoulder strain, neck, back, and neurological conditions were remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and remanded the claims for recurrent dislocation of the left shoulder, right foot disability, left foot disability, PTSD rating, and TDIU.

The appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss and PTSD was dismissed as the Veteran's claims were granted in a subsequent rating decision, making the appeal moot. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder disability was also dismissed due to improper concurrent election of multiple review options.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of both upper and lower extremities, bilateral foot hammer toe, migraine headaches, sinusitis, left shoulder bursitis, and PTSD.