Shoulder decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various psoriatic arthritis conditions due to inadequate medical opinions and a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to service and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's hearing loss is related to service and the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claims for service connection for a disorder manifested by bumps with shaving, a back disorder, a left knee condition, right knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that his current chronic left shoulder disability began in and has continued since active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, finding no evidence linking his current condition to military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain an updated VA examination for his left shoulder disability, as the current evaluation does not include a range of motion assessment under weight-bearing conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the onset and etiology of his left ankle sprain, pleurisy, and right shoulder disability. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional lay statements from the Veteran and a fellow servicemember, as well as an addendum opinion from a VA or private clinician.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues, including service connection for various conditions. The Board has remanded several of these claims due to new evidence received after the September 2023 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis was granted, effective August 19, 2024. The decision is based on the merits of the case and not due to any presumption or new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, TBI, and vertigo, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding service and private treatment records, as well as a need for additional VA examinations to address the Veteran's claims. The claims for bilateral foot disability, left shoulder disability, and respiratory disability are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a right shoulder condition due to insufficient evidence and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of July 18, 2018 for both TDIU and basic eligibility for education benefits under Chapter 35 (DEA). The decision acknowledges that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are severe enough to require the aid and attendance of another, effective April 3, 2020. The appeal for SMC based on housebound status is dismissed as moot due to the award of SMC under section 1114(l).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder strain is related to an injury during active duty, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, low back disability, bladder disability, and musculoskeletal conditions of the feet, ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, and neck, require regular aid and attendance due to his physical incapacity. The Board granted special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective as of September 25, 2020, but not earlier. The Veteran's marginal income and service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left shoulder strains, finding that the current ratings of 20% are appropriate based on limited motion in both shoulders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was denied, and the Board found that no effective date prior to May 30, 2019 is warranted.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is considered an additional disability caused by VA medical treatment, and the Board finds that this disability was not reasonably foreseeable. Therefore, the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is granted.