Shoulder decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's right shoulder increased evaluation claim was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded and requires further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, shoulder disability, spine disability, back injury, hip disability, foot disability, cataracts, heart issues, prostate cancer, and sleep apnea were not shown to have begun during service or be related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.,The Veteran's right knee disability was also not shown to have begun during service or be related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of various joint and muscle conditions, including left shoulder strain, limitation of flexion; right shoulder strain, limitation of flexion; left elbow strain, limitation of flexion; right elbow strain, limitation of flexion; left knee strain, limitation of flexion; right knee strain, limitation of flexion; left thumb condition; left index finger condition; left long finger condition; left ring finger condition; and left pinky finger condition. The Board also denied earlier effective dates for service connection of irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person, nor does he have a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent with additional service-connected disability or disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent. The Board finds that the Veteran is able to perform most of his activities of daily living independently.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder, left hip, and left knee disabilities due to injuries sustained in a February 2019 motor vehicle accident during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed conditions, or that they are due to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, left hip osteoarthritis, left wrist degenerative arthritis, right wrist degenerative arthritis, left elbow degenerative arthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back, TMJ, right hip pain, left hip pain, right shoulder degenerative joint disease with rotator cuff calcific tendinitis, and left shoulder degenerative joint disease. The claims are remanded for further review.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no substitution request for a minor child has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's motions to revise final rating decisions that did not assign separate ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities and assigned a 10% rating for shoulder degenerative arthritis. The decision found no CUE in these decisions.

The Board has remanded the claims for left and right shoulder pain, a left ankle condition, cervical spine pain, respiratory issues, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a head injury due to incomplete medical records and inadequate VA examinations.,Incomplete service treatment records are noted, which may affect the determination of service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right shoulder impingement syndrome, right knee arthralgia, and right ankle condition have been granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not been established for VA purposes. An initial rating of 40 percent for lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) is granted.

The Veteran's left shoulder labral repair is related to her active-duty service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left greater trochanteric pain syndrome, lumbosacral strain, and left shoulder impingement syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right hip disabilities. The effective date of these determinations is February 6, 2026.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for left shoulder status post resection distal end clavicle, with acromioclavicular degenerative joint disease.

The Board has denied service connection for degenerative joint disease/arthritis cervical spine (neck) due to a lack of evidence showing the Veteran had this condition during or within one year after his military service.,The Board has remanded the claims for appendicitis, bilateral shoulder pain, and hemorrhoids as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine stenosis and DDD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis, cervical spine DDD, stenosis and facet arthropathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy have all been granted. The claims are based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine stenosis and DDD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis, cervical spine DDD, stenosis and facet arthropathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy have all been granted. The claims are based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine stenosis and DDD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis, cervical spine DDD, stenosis and facet arthropathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy have all been granted. The claims are based on direct service connection.