Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial disability rating higher than 20 percent for his left shoulder condition. The decision found that the Veteran did not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability, as defined by VA regulations, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The claim for increased rating of the left shoulder was remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on several issues, including service connection and increased ratings.,An effective date earlier than June 2, 2014, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder bursitis, claimed as rotator cuff with numbness right hand, triceps bicep, finding that there was no evidence linking her current condition to her military service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from September 1, 2011 to November 14, 2011. The claim of entitlement to TDIU for the period from November 15, 2011 to December 31, 2012 is moot due to the Veteran's 100% schedular rating and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). The claim of TDIU prior to September 1, 2011 was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disability. The claim will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected back and shoulder disabilities were of sufficient severity to preclude substantially gainful employment from July 2, 2010 to February 27, 2014. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative joint disease has been rated at 40 percent since February 1, 2017. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in rating beyond this level.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities as of September 27, 2016. The Veteran’s service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and a left shoulder disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or condition related to the disabilities.

Service connection is denied for right shoulder, left shoulder, and hypertension disorders.,Service connection is granted for unspecified mental health disorder (depressive disorder with anxious distress features), sleep apnea, and headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as left and right knee disabilities. The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a lack of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) and inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for a left shoulder disorder have been denied. The Board found no evidence of ankylosis or recurrent subluxation/lateral instability in the knees, which precluded higher ratings. For the left knee, there was no semilunar cartilage condition shown after June 27, 2016, and for hearing loss, the Veteran did not meet VA criteria for a disability. The Board also found that the left shoulder disorder is less likely than not related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar strain has been granted a 20 percent evaluation, effective February 21, 2017. The Board also remanded several service connection claims for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA opinions in previous decisions. The case is returned for further action, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck, shoulder, back, hip, and sleep apnea disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder, left shoulder, right hip, and left hip disabilities are not related to his military service. The gastrointestinal disability is also remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of right shoulder, left shoulder, and right elbow disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's left thumb disability is also being remanded as her duty status during the April 1990 'Special Tour' needs clarification.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment, as he does not have a loss of use of one or both hands or feet, nor any other qualifying condition.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to incomplete records and non-compliance with the Board's previous directives.