Shoulder decisions — 2026

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD; left shoulder disability; and right shoulder disability. The Veteran did not meet the current disability requirement or provide sufficient evidence to support a link between his military service and these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations related to his cervical strain, right elbow injury (claimed as cubital tunnel syndrome), right shoulder condition, and non-painful surgical scar on the grounds that he had already submitted a duplicate appeal request.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his right shoulder impingement syndrome is being remanded due to the failure to obtain relevant private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to deficiencies in the prior examination and lack of consideration of certain evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 80 percent, which is the maximum rating available. The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent rating, which is also the maximum rating.,Service connection for back disability, headaches disability, insomnia disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are remanded due to missing private medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities. Service connection is also granted for left leg shin splints and right leg shin splints. The Veteran's claims for a left foot skin condition and right foot skin condition are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle, knee, shoulder, and wrist conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of service connection for a back condition, neck condition, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition due to in-service noise exposure. The decision also found that the Veteran's pre-existing back condition was not aggravated by active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee, right knee, left shoulder, right shoulder, lumbar spine, and right wrist conditions. The claims of entitlement to service connection for a skin condition and left eardrum rupture are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete TERA development and inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right shoulder disability has been withdrawn by the Veteran and his representative, resulting in its dismissal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a migraine disability and a right shoulder disability, both secondary to pre-existing disabilities. The evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the service-connected cervical strain or left shoulder strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of his claims for increased ratings and SMC. The VA will provide an examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left and right shoulder conditions, as well as a permanent need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU and DEA during the period from August 29, 2016, to October 5, 2020, due to his service-connected right knee disability preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis is granted service connection. The right shoulder disability, including glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis and subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis, is granted but with a rating of 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and right shoulder disabilities due to an error in providing notice of his right to a hearing on supplemental claims.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports the readjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability. The Veteran's condition is considered to be related to his active military service, placing it in equipoise with the opinions against such a relationship.

The Board has granted service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, neck disorder, left hip and right hip disorders, left shoulder and right shoulder disorders, and left knee and right knee disorders. These conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, right knee tendonitis, and right ear hearing loss have been granted. Claims for left hand injury, kidney stones, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance abuse disorder, left shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, and fatty liver disease were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of elbow, hand and finger, or knee ankylosis. The claims for ankle sprain, hip sprain, lumbosacral sprain (lower back sprain), cervical strain (neck strain), shoulder strain, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded to obtain adequate medical opinions.