Shoulder decisions — 2026

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including recurrent rotator cuff tear and muscle injury, is granted with a maximum schedular rating of 40 percent for the recurrent rotator cuff tear. A separate 30 percent rating is also granted for the right shoulder muscle injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 30, 2021. The effective date was not granted as there was no factually ascertainable increase in his service-connected disabilities within one year of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further development due to the need for a new VA medical examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left shoulder disability, discounting the ameliorative effects of medications.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for various conditions including a right knee disorder, right wrist disorder, right shoulder nerve disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The AOJ is required to provide notice concerning the appellant's right to a hearing under 38 C.F.R. �� 3.103(b)(1) and (d)(1).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and right shoulder disorders due to a lack of adequate medical opinions in the November 2020 VA examinations. The Veteran is requested to undergo further examination to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left shoulder disability has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain and right shoulder strain, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral foot, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for a right shoulder disability due to insufficient medical evidence regarding its onset during service. The Veteran's claims file includes VA opinions stating that there is no link between his current right shoulder condition and his period of active service.

The Veteran's headaches and left shoulder disability are granted as secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions and potential errors in decision-making.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted.,Claims for right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities have also been reopened and granted.

The appeal seeking entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected left shoulder strain is dismissed.,The appeals seeking service connection for right shoulder disability and obesity are dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, osteoarthritis (claimed as a chronic pain disability), back disability, fibromyalgia, and migraine headaches. The evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's in-service herbicide agent exposure or any other in-service disease or injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder and right shoulder disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records show diagnoses of neck strain and shoulder strain, but no in-service documentation of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for left shoulder dislocation, migraine headaches, left wrist ankylosis, insomnia, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions at any time during the appeal period.,The Veteran's claim for lumbosacral strain has been remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic bronchitis, respiratory disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, widespread muscle pains, sinusitis, left foot pes planus, right foot pes planus, right ear hearing loss, and a right shoulder disability have all been denied. The Board found no current disabilities for VA purposes in relation to these claims.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial 70 percent rating, effective December 2022.,Left great ingrown toenail residuals were denied a compensable rating.

The appellant has withdrawn his appeal concerning service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety with outbursts, lower back pain, and chronic headaches, right and left shoulder pain, and appropriate ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran passed away before the Board could make a decision on her service connection claims for rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome. Her appeal is dismissed due to her death.