Shoulder decisions — 2026

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, which is not service-connected, has been granted a 30 percent rating. The condition is characterized by pain and limited motion to 45 degrees of flexion and abduction.

Service connection is granted for cervical strain with right upper extremity radiculopathy. Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disorder, anxiety disorder, hemorrhoids, left knee disability, and right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, diagnosed as left shoulder strain and left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, had its onset during service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on service-connected disabilities effective October 1, 2010. The award of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is also granted as of that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder and right wrist disabilities due to a lack of medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The rating for left shoulder strain prior to November 18, 2021 was denied, while the rating for left knee strain since October 31, 2015 was granted at 40 percent. Earlier effective dates of October 31, 2015 were granted for service connection of radiculopathy in both lower extremities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that it had its onset during service and is at least as likely as not related to his active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to duty-to-assist errors and inextricably intertwined issues of SMC based on loss of use of an upper extremity and SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence was received for the claims of service connection for hemorrhoids, a neck disability, a right shoulder disability, inguinal hernias, and GERD with hiatal hernia. These claims are now remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of CFS, left heel pain, right heel pain, and right shoulder pain have been denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ulcerative colitis has been granted with a 60% rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board also remanded cases for right foot, left foot, right hand, headaches (migraine), and right shoulder disorders due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in verifying the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA), obtaining complete service treatment records, and scheduling a VA examination. The AOJ is required to correct these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic headaches with blurry vision, hemorrhoids, a right shoulder disability, recurring nosebleeds, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, and hypertension due to outstanding SSA records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability and dismissed his appeal for service connection for migraines.

The Board has decided that more evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's right shoulder disability and rheumatoid arthritis with manifestations to include joint pain of the left side of the body were incurred in service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome, left knee condition, right knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and left shoulder pain due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions was dismissed due to the absence of a decision addressing tinnitus. The issues of hypertension, sinus condition, bilateral eye condition, right wrist disability, and bilateral hand, arm, elbow, and shoulder disabilities were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 28, 2005, for a 20 percent rating for limitation of motion residuals of gunshot wound to the right axilla is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) and special monthly pension (SMP) based on need for regular aid and attendance (A&A) or housebound status due to insufficient evidence showing that he needed such assistance.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of June 28, 2005, for a 20 percent rating for limitation of motion residuals of gunshot wound to the right axilla is granted.