Shoulder decisions — 2026

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.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic pain syndrome, including neck pain, secondary to her service-connected residuals of a partial hysterectomy and/or depressive disorder is remanded due to the need for a medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, back, and neck conditions due to a lack of STRs and an inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period, and TDIU is granted from May 3, 2021.

The Veteran's prescribed topical skin medication, triamcinolone cream, caused irreparable damage to his clothing and the Board granted a clothing allowance for 2020 based on this.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right hip and left shoulder disorders, finding that these conditions are related to his active duty 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-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of January 1, 2022.,The Veteran is now eligible for Dependent's Education Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 from the same period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The remaining issues of left ankle, knee, shoulder, hip, lower back, and neck pain are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the claim of right shoulder condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for right shoulder pinched nerve (tendonitis bicipital). The appeals for bilateral inguinal hernia, right foot tingling and numbness in toes, and sleep apnea with CPAP are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and a disability claimed as right arm numbness, finding that there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events, injuries, or occurrences that would support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hip arthritis, acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder arthritis, and bilateral knee arthritis have been granted as they are found to be related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran is granted a total rating based on individual employability due to service-connected disabilities from December 18, 2024. Her service-connected bilateral knee, left shoulder, and left elbow disabilities preclude her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the July 2025 rating decision, which assigned a 20 percent evaluation for right shoulder strain, is inadequate due to an incomplete and potentially flawed VA examination. The Veteran's testimony indicates that the examiner did not fully test his joints under active motion and forced him past the point where pain began without documenting this clearly.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to restore a higher rating for his left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, strain and rotator cuff tendonitis from 30% back to 20%, finding that the evidence did not show severity of symptoms resulting in limitation of flexion of the left arm to midway between the side and shoulder level.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, right shoulder, and left shoulder conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will need to provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disability.