Shoulder decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, service connection for alcohol use disorder, and anxiety disorder. The Veteran's spondylolisthesis and right shoulder impingement syndrome are currently rated at 20 percent each, but do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria. Service connection has been granted for left hip disability and right hip disability due to their proximate relationship to service-connected spondylolisthesis. Bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in notification and medical opinion, which may affect eligibility for benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC).

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, but dismissed the claim for left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's asthma, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis and impingement syndrome, right knee tendonitis, right knee tendinitis, left knee tendonitis, and left ear sensorineural hearing loss have been granted increased ratings. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical myofascial syndrome, left shoulder myofascial pain with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and right shoulder myofascial pain with acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension have been dismissed due to concurrent election of review options. The appeal for numbness of the right foot is being remanded, as well as the claim involving a disability of the right shoulder, knee, ankle, and foot (to include consideration of gout).,The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending on remand.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence of current disabilities related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and therefore service connection is denied. The claims for back condition, neck condition, right shoulder condition, and thoracic outlet syndrome are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for heart disease, hypertension, bilateral foot disability (including plantar fasciitis and pes planus), right knee pain, right shoulder pain, sciatica, and sleep disorder due to a deficiency in the record prior to the decision on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and treatment records, requiring further action by VA.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for bilateral shoulder disability has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's left shoulder osteoarthritis is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that symptoms of recurrent pain since jump school in 1985 are continuous since his period of active service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, hypertension, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions had their onset during or were related to service.,The Veteran's assertions regarding in-service injuries did not align with the service treatment records, which showed no complaints or issues with his shoulders. The Board found that there was insufficient evidence linking current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment due to his right shoulder strain, impingement syndrome, and rotator cuff tendonitis.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly adjudicate the claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and addressing service connection under TERA. The cause of death was attributed to cardiovascular disease, but there are uncertainties regarding the Veteran's lung cancer status and potential service-connected causes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthritis of the left hand, right hand, left knee, and right knee as secondary to service-connected hepatitis C (HCV) due to procedural errors in obtaining medical opinions addressing whether HCV caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations of record are inadequate for purposes of rating the Veteran's disabilities on appeal. The claims must be remanded to afford the Veteran VA examinations that assess and opine on the current state and severity of his service-connected left shoulder rotator cuff sprain and tendonitis with arthroscopy and AC joint separation, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and thoracic back sprain conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for linear scars of the right shoulder was denied, and the appeal to reduce his service-connected right shoulder status post repair with mild impingement from 40 percent to 20 percent was dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection claims for right ring finger disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Board has found that the medical opinions obtained by the AOJ are inadequate and constitutes a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's claims for service connection for his back and shoulder disabilities are being remanded for further development.