Shoulder decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to a lack of VA examinations addressing the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, and her left shoulder strain is rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the left shoulder strain.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings of his right shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and retrospective addendum opinions. The maximum schedular rating has already been granted, so no further increase in rating from January 29, 2025, is at issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability is related to service, resolving all doubts in his favor. The evidence shows a current diagnosis of bilateral shoulder strain and degenerative arthritis, which the Veteran attributes to injuries sustained during military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was previously rated at 30 percent, but starting June 6, 2024, it is now rated at 40 percent. The case remains remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating or service connection in all cases.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding chronic pain, left shoulder condition, sleep apnea, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left shoulder injury and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The appeal will not be resumed as no request for substitution has been received.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, including impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear, and acromioclavicular joint arthritis, is granted as service-connected. The compensable rating for hemorrhoids, status post hemorrhoidectomy, is denied. A separate rating of 10 percent for pruritus ani is granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including acquired psychiatric disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, right shoulder disability, residuals of bronchitis, kidney pain, and testicular pain. The Veteran's claims were not supported by current medical evidence or a link to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, including left shoulder strain, migraines, right shoulder strain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), back pain, and lip scar.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disability, headache disability, eyebrow scar, back disorder, and right knee disorder. The AOJ will need to obtain additional medical opinions and consider any relevant evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence is persuasively against a finding that the Veteran currently has these conditions.,For the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right ear hearing loss, CFS, sleep apnea, respiratory disability, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, left leg disability, and ED, the Board has remanded these claims to allow for further development.

The Veteran's left wrist disorder is granted service connection and assigned a 20% rating.,His neck disability is granted with an initial 20% rating, but no higher.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there was a full grant of benefits for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left shoulder acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease, and right shoulder degenerative arthritis with rotator cuff tendonitis in an August 2024 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities.,Service connection is also remanded for a thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service-connected cervicalgia, left shoulder strain, right shoulder strain with bursitis, and left hip strain were granted effective April 27, 2022.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for insomnia, right shoulder condition, and nerve damage due to duty-to-assist errors in prior VA opinions. The Veteran's left shoulder condition and nerve damage are also remanded as they involve secondary service connection.