Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent since February 20, 2016. The rating is based on the limitation of motion in the major arm limited to no worse than midway between the side and shoulder level.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, back disorder, and bilateral shoulder disorder due to insufficient reasoning in the August 2021 VA opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to service. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current condition is at least as likely as not caused by in-service treatment for right shoulder pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and shoulder conditions due to insufficient examination opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his diagnosed right shoulder, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The claims are being returned for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, right shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder due to procedural errors in obtaining an examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to VA's failure to obtain private treatment records from the Veteran's chiropractor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, bilateral shoulder conditions, and hypertrophic gastritis due to a lack of adequate VA etiology opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a separate 10 percent rating, but not higher, for a painful scar of the left knee are granted. The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected hypertension is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed as she has withdrawn her appeals regarding these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities are related to his active service, with the benefit of doubt favoring the Veteran. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder sprain is causally related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI and migraine headaches have been granted higher ratings, but the Board has found further development is needed for other issues.,The Veteran's hypertension and right shoulder disability are also being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome, C4-C5 central disc protrusion with spondylosis, kidney disability, numbness and paresthesias of the bilateral hands, left hip painful flexion, right hip painful extension and flexion, left hip proximal femur stress fracture, right hip proximal femur stress fracture, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, and the effective date for a 20% rating for his left shoulder disability is set at September 1, 2014. Service connection for left shoulder residual scars is also granted with an effective date of July 18, 2014. The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome and limitation of extension ratings are all remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral spine pain with degenerative disc disease and remanded other issues. Additional development is required to address all claims.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with panic disorder is granted service connection. The left shoulder and clavicle disability, as well as the cervical spine disability, are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left breast, bilateral hip, leg, and shoulder disabilities due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The VA examiners found no causal link between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disability, which was not previously conducted.