Shoulder decisions — 2026

The Board denied the Veteran's request to revise a June 1971 rating decision that assigned an initial noncompensable disability rating for his right shoulder injury due to lack of clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The RO correctly applied the applicable regulations at the time.

The Veteran's left shoulder scars are not service-connected and do not warrant a compensable disability rating.,The Veteran's left foot neuropathy is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum available under current criteria. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,Service connection for brain damage, lumbar spine disability, or right leg disability (deep vein thrombosis) has not been established by the evidence of record.,The Veteran's service records do not indicate any incidents related to burn pits, Agent Orange exposure, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive conditions. Therefore, no specific exposure basis can be determined.,No new and material evidence has been submitted for brain damage, lumbar spine disability, or right leg disability (deep vein thrombosis).,The Veteran's service records do not indicate any incidents related to burn pits, Agent Orange exposure, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive conditions. Therefore, no specific exposure basis can be determined.,,None of the issues have a clear and convincing evidence that supports their resolution in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not established during service or within one year post-discharge.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been presented to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for a back condition, left shoulder condition, scars (of the head, face, neck), skin condition of bilateral hands, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The AOJ is directed to consider this new evidence in their subsequent adjudication.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The VA will obtain medical opinions regarding the relationship between the claimed conditions and service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as well as a TERA examination for frequent urination.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain the Veteran's SSA records, which are potentially relevant to his SSDI benefits and employment status.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation of his service-connected left shoulder disability was denied. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates of June 26, 2019 for a 20 percent disability rating for his left and right shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for hypertension was denied.,Service connection for a bone density disability, iron deficiency anemia, IBS, migraines, sleep apnea, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability were all denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 16, 2020 for the award of service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected left shoulder labral tear including SLAP, right shoulder rotator cuff tear of supraspinatus tendon with tendonosis and partial rotator cuff tear of infraspinus tendon and mild ac joint osteoarthrosis, and PTSD were dismissed due to concurrent review elections.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis and rhomboid strain, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 20 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with arthritis, effective October 26, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a denial of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain and left knee degenerative arthritis were not incurred during service, but the Veteran's gout was found to have begun during service.,Chronic kidney disease is denied as there is no direct evidence linking it to service.

The appeal regarding entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD is dismissed. The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a right thigh condition, right shoulder condition, and right clavicle scar are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, bilateral knee disabilities, and a thoracolumbar spine disability. Service connection was granted for hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder condition, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right upper extremity idiopathic autonomic neuropathy as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder degenerative arthritis with impairment of clavicle/scapula.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, radiculopathy left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), and radiculopathy right lower extremity (sciatic nerve), right shoulder condition, and flat feet. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.