Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee strain and right shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis are related to service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions. The lower back and left knee disabilities remain under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right shoulder condition and its relation to service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings and service connection were dismissed due to their death. The claims will be dismissed without prejudice.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum rating available. Service connection has been granted for left ankle strain, right ankle strain, back disability, neck strain, and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's ankle and knee conditions are granted service connection. The Board finds the evidence approximately balanced as to whether these disabilities began in service.,Service connection for right shoulder DJD and impingement syndrome is also granted.

The appeal was dismissed because the Veteran submitted a VA Form 10182 in June 2025, which constituted an impermissible concurrent election. The Board found that this procedural defect required dismissal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain and acquired psychiatric disability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records from his active duty period. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain the Veteran's STRs and military personnel records.

An effective date of July 1, 2020 is granted for Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).,An effective date of July 1, 2020 is also granted for basic eligibility for Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) due to permanent and total service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, rotator cuff tendonitis of the right shoulder, and lumbar spinal stenosis and degenerative arthritis. The conditions are all found to be related to his service-connected PTSD, physical training during active duty, or military duties.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of a right shoulder disability due to insufficient evidence or further evaluation is needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee, right knee, left wrist, right wrist, and right shoulder disabilities due to duty-to-assist errors and to address the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder tendonitis and bursitis with snapping syndrome, status post arthroscopic surgery. The claim of service connection for degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy (claimed as spondylolisthesis, back) is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disorders should be remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and a need for an examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition, including tendonitis and ACJ sprain, is granted as service-connected based on in-service onset and continuity of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's right knee condition, including meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, is granted as service-connected due to in-service onset and continuity of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's left knee meniscal tear is granted as service-connected due to in-service onset and secondary to the right knee condition.,The Veteran's left Achilles tendinitis is granted as service-connected based on in-service onset.

The Veteran's SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless that he needed regular aid and attendance. The criteria for SMC at the housebound rate have also not been met.

The Veteran has withdrawn all pending appeals, including those related to service connection for various conditions and a rating for migraines and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, particularly regarding his shoulder disorders and nasal surgeries. The claims for service connection have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are being remanded due to scheduling conflicts preventing VA examinations, and the claim for a higher rating based on multiple noncompensable disabilities is inextricably intertwined with other pending claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 31, 2020.