Shoulder decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues with scheduling VA examinations for an incarcerated Veteran. The claims will be reconsidered after these examinations are completed.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for a scar behind the left knee, an initial 20 percent evaluation for a low back disability prior to June 10, 2019, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and CTS of the left upper extremity, and service connection for a right shoulder disability are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is remanded.

The appeal for service connection of a left shoulder disorder is dismissed as the Veteran's claim has been granted in a separate rating decision. The motor tic disorder claim remains on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the prior decisions.,Additional VA examinations will be scheduled to provide retrospective opinions on the severity of the Veteran's disabilities during the relevant periods.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided do not comply with the remand directives. Therefore, another remand is necessary to obtain the requested retrospective estimates for the Veteran's right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various hand, knee, ankle, shoulder, fatigue, and chest pain disorders due to a lack of notification regarding scheduled VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of an onset in service or relationship to service.,The VA examiners concluded that the current conditions were not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, a right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic in-service injury or disease leading to arthritis and strain. The Board also found that continuity of symptomatology since service could not be established.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis. The back and right shoulder conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his ability to perform most activities of daily living independently despite some limitations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and shoulder disorders due to inadequate examination reports and opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities due to a lack of consideration of lay evidence in an earlier decision.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition. The Veteran's current diagnoses are supported by his military history and lay statements, with the opinion of a nurse practitioner providing strong support.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of right and left shoulder disabilities due to a lack of an adequate opinion on secondary aggravation.

The Board is remanding the claims for cervical spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy due to duty-to-assist errors.,The Board is also remanding the claim for obstructive sleep apnea as there was a duty-to-assist error prior to the July 2024 rating decision.

The Board denied the appellant's request for attorney fees related to past-due benefits from the February 2025 grant of service connection and SMC housebound claims.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left shoulder condition and a neck condition as they have already been granted in an April 2025 rating decision. The appeal is moot.

The Board has decided that there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's right shoulder condition was incurred during service, and therefore the case is being returned for further action.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted, including lumbar spine DDD, cervical spine disorder, LEFT shoulder disorder, bilateral ankle disorders, and basal cell carcinoma of the skin. Secondary service connection has also been established for radiculopathy in both lower extremities.