Shoulder decisions — 2026

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection as it had its onset during his active service.,For the other conditions, including jaw condition, neck condition, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, right hand condition, left hand condition, right foot condition, chest pain, and shortness of breath, there is no probative evidence showing they were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and right shoulder disability due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology and functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding her lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral shoulder conditions.,The Veteran has been granted a 10 percent rating for allergic rhinitis. The appeal remains pending for the other issues.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder tendonitis, right elbow tendonitis, and left elbow tendonitis due to non-compliance with the one-year time limit for filing a Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU and DEA eligibility on and after February 7, 2022.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of his left shoulder disability due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its onset and relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities due to a lack of VA examination and scheduling issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disorder, finding that it is etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of SMC at the intermediate rate. The rating for left knee flexion limitation is granted, as well as instability ratings for the left knee. Tinnitus remains rated at 10 percent. Service connection claims related to a left ear condition, depressive disorder with anxiety, left shoulder impingement syndrome, and migraine headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for temporomandibular joint disorder, unspecified (grinding), left shoulder sprain, and shoulder right pain has been dismissed due to the issuance of a deferred rating decision.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral elbow pain and numbness, and bilateral hand arthritis and numbness has also been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for lower back condition, migraines, right knee condition, left knee condition, right shoulder pain, bronchitis, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure due to missing community care notes. The AOJ is instructed to make reasonable efforts to obtain these records.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain and right shoulder degenerative arthritis (s/p arthroscopic clean out).,Special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of a creative organ is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, Neurocognitive Impairment, CFS, Chronic Pain Disorder, Neck and Upper Airway Disorder, Obesity, Nephropathy, Bilateral Pes Planus, Left Knee Disorder, Left Shoulder Disorder, Right Shoulder Disorder, Right Wrist Disorder, Lumbar Spine Disorder, Bilateral Lower Extremity Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (PN), Hearing Loss, ED, and GU Disorder. The decision is based on the absence of a current diagnosis for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to a duty to assist error, as the VA examiners did not consider all relevant evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis and strain began during his active duty service, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran. Service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service. Service connection was denied for right knee disability due to lack of evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder degenerative arthritis due to a deficiency in the record, specifically the lack of an adequate VA examination prior to the rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a neck disorder and bilateral ankle, elbow, hip, shoulder, wrist, upper or lower extremity neuropathy disorders, are denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's malaria is inactive with no symptoms or residuals, and thus a compensable rating is denied.,The scar from the sebaceous cyst below the right eye does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as it has no characteristic of disfigurement.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for clarifying medical opinions regarding the etiology of arthritis and neuropathy, as well as addressing Dr. C.'s opinion on risk factors.