Shoulder decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failure to notify the appellant of scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's effective date for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea is denied as it predates his Intent to File. The April 2015 rating decision, which granted right shoulder traumatic arthritis with a 10% rating, was not found to be the result of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral shoulder disabilities, low back disability, left ankle disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's service records do not show any diagnosed hip or ankle conditions during his active service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left shoulder disability has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for chronic fatigue syndrome, presumed due to Persian Gulf War service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder joint pain and right hip joint pain due to a lack of medical evidence on file, as required by McLendon v. Nicholson (2006).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue, erectile dysfunction (also claimed as loss of sex drive), vertigo (also claimed as lightheadedness and dizziness), back pain, neck pain, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, right knee pain, and left knee pain due to insufficient medical evidence in the file.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, GERD, shoulder, hand, and knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to September 26, 2025.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that both conditions were incurred during the Veteran's period of active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 31, 2024.

The Veteran's chronic headaches are granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected sinusitis. Service connection for CFS and fibromyalgia is denied due to lack of objective evidence meeting the criteria.

The Veteran's low back disability was restored to a 40% rating. Service connection for neck, right shoulder, left shoulder, and bilateral ankle conditions is granted but the claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence. TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's GERD, elbow disorders, shoulder disorders, low back disorder, hip conditions, and knee conditions are being remanded for further examination and opinion to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for a peptic ulcer and an initial rating for his right shoulder disability. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for the peptic ulcer and the right shoulder disability, while denying an increased rating for the right shoulder disability and remanding the issue of effective date for TDIU prior to January 4, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA examination addressing the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disorder. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether the current right shoulder disorders are related to service, including physical training and duties as a petroleum supply specialist.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow, left shoulder, and neck disorders due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis and right knee arthritis, finding that additional medical opinions are needed to address functional loss due to flare-ups or repeated use over time.

Service connection is granted for low back and neck disabilities, but denied for eye contusion, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), conjunctivitis, left shoulder disability, and left ring finger disability.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of low back and cervical spine DDD are presumed service connected due to continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for each of his claimed orthopedic conditions, and there is no evidence to support a finding that any such disabilities are related to service.,Service connection was denied for all of the Veteran's orthopedic complaints as they were not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the VA opinions obtained in this case are inadequate and not compliant with the September 2024 Board remand directives. Therefore, additional remand for adequate VA opinions is necessary prior to adjudication.