Shoulder decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability due to conflicting medical opinions and an unclear diagnosis. The case is returned for further development, including obtaining additional VA examination and medical opinion.

The appeals for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, back, right hip, and left hip disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran's claims were granted in full by an April 2025 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on six separate conditions (right shoulder, right hand, left hand, right ankle, left ankle, and left ear hearing loss) has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions provided prior to the August 2020 rating decision. The AOJ must obtain updated medical opinions addressing the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased rating and service connection were dismissed due to their death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, with the right shoulder disability being secondary to his service-connected knee disability. The case is remanded for a VA examination regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical strain since August 20, 2018, has been withdrawn.,Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted.,Service connection for right shoulder condition, including dislocation, pain, and surgery, is granted.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted as the Veteran's reported symptoms are consistent with a current disability and his service history includes exposure to loud sounds from aircraft. Service connection is also granted for bilateral hearing loss due to evidence of noise exposure during service.,Service connection for right shoulder condition is denied as there is no credible evidence linking the condition to service, despite the Veteran's report of injury during service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right shoulder disability was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his PTSD as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100% evaluation. For his right knee and left knee disabilities, he is not entitled to a higher rating than 10%. However, he is granted a 30% rating for his right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions and a rating for hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder, sinusitis, acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee scar, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss are all being reviewed.

The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to March 30, 2012 for service connection of right shoulder rheumatoid arthritis, residual of Sjögren's syndrome, with strain, rotator cuff tendonitis and impingement syndrome.,The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to March 30, 2012 for service connection of left shoulder rheumatoid arthritis, residual of Sjögren's syndrome, with strain, rotator cuff tendonitis and impingement syndrome.,The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to March 30, 2012 for service connection of right knee rheumatoid arthritis, residual of Sjögren's syndrome, with strain and patellofemoral pain syndrome.,The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to March 30, 2012 for service connection of left knee rheumatoid arthritis, residual of Sjögren's syndrome, with strain and patellofemoral pain syndrome.,The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to March 30, 2012 for service connection of dry eye syndrome, residual of Sjögren's syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, is due to her service and grants service connection for this condition.

Service connection is granted for right knee pain resulting in functional impairment and bilateral shoulder pain resulting in functional impairment.,The Veteran's vision disorder (including hyperopia and astigmatism) is not service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left shoulder disability, and other conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility are granted effective May 5, 2021.

The Veteran's attempts to appeal the denial of PTSD and left shoulder residuals were dismissed because they were not filed within one year from the March 29, 2023 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder strain as secondary to a right shoulder strain and for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to allergic rhinitis. The decision is mixed, with some issues being granted and others not.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left shoulder acromioclavicular (AC) joint separation with traumatic arthritis is being remanded due to a regulatory duty.