Shoulder decisions — 2026

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, chronic fatigue, congestive heart failure, DM II, hypertension, and a right shoulder condition. The Veteran's claims were based on presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to his service-connected TMJ.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and a right shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remands the claims for bilateral shoulder strain, ankle tendonitis, and patellofemoral pain syndrome due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate development of evidence, specifically failing to provide a VA examination or medical opinion regarding his claimed bilateral ankle, knee, low back, and left shoulder conditions. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date and a higher rating for his right shoulder disability was denied. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is July 1, 2024, and that a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches, as secondary to tinnitus, is granted. The claims for service connection for hearing loss disability and a disability manifested by shortness of breath other than chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are denied. The claims for service connection for an intestinal disability (diverticulitis), fatigue, hypertension, neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, upper and lower back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right hip disability, left hip disability, right foot pain, left foot pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the service connection of multiple conditions, including low back disability, bilateral foot disability, cervical spine disability, migraines, right hand and shoulder disabilities, right wrist disability, asthma (claimed as Gulf War Syndrome), chronic fatigue syndrome, dysmenorrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and sleep disability. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis of the right shoulder began in service and has continued since, granting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 30, 2023, for service connection of right shoulder acromioclavicular joint degeneration with a 20% disability evaluation is granted. The decision is based on the submission of a VA Form 21-526EZ by the Veteran after he had previously filed an Intent to File (ITF) letter.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder strain, left knee strain, hemorrhoids, and right shoulder paralabral cysts as these conditions are not shown to have begun during active service or be related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for any of the claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it did not receive any arguments or evidence from the Veteran and his attorney within the allotted time.

The Veteran is found not competent to handle the disbursement of VA funds, and his appeal is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to bilateral plantar fasciitis and left shoulder tendinitis due to inadequate medical opinion regarding causation.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and remanded the case for further action on heart disability. The decision regarding right shoulder disability is that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hysterectomy, left shoulder condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions began during or were caused by her military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been withdrawn and are dismissed. Service connection has been granted for generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, but denied for other conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA will obtain new opinions from different VA examiners to address whether the Veteran's conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service, including exposure during combat.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the right elbow disability and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim is related to his service-connected bilateral shoulder disabilities, but the relationship between these conditions and the right elbow disability remains unclear.