Shoulder Board decisions

The Board granted ratings of 30 percent or higher for the Veteran's cervical spine degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine osteoarthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, right shoulder strain, left elbow olecranon bursitis, right elbow olecranon bursitis, and headaches. Service connection was also granted for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) under the PACT Act.

The Board granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, right/left lung apical and basilar pulmonary fibrosis (under the PACT Act), right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and an acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD).

The Board remands the claims for service connection for PTSD and right shoulder rotator cuff injury to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The appeal for service connection for a right shoulder strain was denied, while the appeals for service connection for left ankle strain, right ankle strain, lumbar strain, cervical strain, and bilateral pes planus were remanded.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's left shoulder subluxation with bursitis was granted a 40 percent rating from March 12, 2024, while the right hip bursitis limitation of flexion was denied. The Veteran was also granted entitlement to special monthly compensation at the housebound rate and aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities starting on that date.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, a left shoulder disability, and lumbar strain as there was no current disability. The cervical strain with cervicalgia claim was dismissed as moot due to an April 2025 rating decision granting service connection.

The Board denied a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and remanded the claims for service connection, increased ratings for acne and knee disorders, and pes planus.

The Board denied service connection for all the claimed conditions as there was no evidence of a current disability or that any of the claimed disabilities were related to active duty.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include generalized anxiety disorder, and left ear hearing loss. Other claims were denied or remanded.

The Board denied an effective date prior to September 5, 2023, for a 100 percent rating for MDD and SMC based on housebound criteria. However, it granted service connection for right ear painful scar, right ear surgical scar, and sleep apnea with an effective date of November 30, 2020.

The Board remands all claims for service connection and a compensable disability rating due to the failure of the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) to properly obtain relevant private medical records prior to making a decision on appeal.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and denied increased ratings for lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, and right hip disabilities.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for the assignment of ratings and service connection based on an intent to file a claim submitted by the Veteran prior to his formal claim.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for chronic lumbar strain, restored the 10 percent rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome effective February 11, 2023, and granted separate 10 percent ratings for instability of the right knee. The decision also granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD from June 8, 2021, and TDIU based on PTSD alone from August 21, 2021, along with SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) based on housebound status from the same date.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities, but remanded claims for a neck disability, lower back disability, right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder condition and migraines, with ratings of 30 percent effective from November 2, 2022.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, and secondary service connection for cervical and lumbar radiculopathies.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for epilepsy, psychomotor and service connection for right middle finger scar. Several claims were withdrawn and dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for headache, back, neck, and left shoulder disabilities as the conditions were not shown to be chronic in service or manifest within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology was not established; and there was no evidence linking the disabilities to an in-service injury or disease.