Shoulder decisions — 2026

Right Shoulder Arthritis: Service connection is granted as the Veteran's right shoulder symptoms began during service and are related to his in-service injury.,Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Service connection is denied as there is no evidence of OSA during service or a nexus to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis due to stress on his joints from training and parachute jumps during active service. The evidence considered included the Veteran's statements, a private medical opinion, and a buddy statement.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on any of the issues raised.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, and low back disabilities are remanded for further review due to a duty-to-assist error in the October 2025 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome. The conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for special home adaptation and specially adapted housing should be remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The VA needs to schedule the Veteran for examinations to assess his service-connected back and right shoulder disabilities, which are relevant to his eligibility for these benefits.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for her service-connected right shoulder degenerative joint disease and rotator cuff tendonitis is denied as the evidence does not show that her range of motion is limited to less than 25 degrees from the side.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder condition, finding that there is no evidence to support an in-service injury or disease and thus not meeting the criteria for service connection.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The claims for increased rating, service connection for right shoulder pathology, left shoulder pathology, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) have not progressed.

The Board dismissed the appeal of a proposal to reduce the disability rating for right shoulder rotator cuff tear because it was not within the Board's jurisdiction to adjudicate such a non-final decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his left shoulder osteoarthritis and entitlement to a TDIU due to a duty to assist error regarding the ameliorative effects of medication on his disability.

The Board found that the overpayment of compensation benefits due to a reduction in VA benefits for felony incarceration was valid and not due to sole administrative error. The Veteran's right shoulder disability claim is granted, but his benefits were reduced due to incarceration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for right shoulder disability is dismissed. The initial rating for the right shoulder disability remains at 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability, finding no in-service injury or disease related to the condition and insufficient evidence to warrant a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder condition due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete STRs. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 7, 2023 for a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's right shoulder condition. The decision finds that entitlement to this increased rating arose on September 7, 2023.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis, right knee strain, and left knee strain. The conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of right shoulder rotatory cuff tear with ACL joint osteoarthritis is denied as the evidence does not show that the additional service treatment records received in April 2014 were relevant to his original claim, and he did not file a timely appeal within one year after receiving the final February 2015 SOC.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, low back, left knee, urinary, and scar disabilities as there is no persuasive evidence that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his period of honorable military service.