Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and failure to obtain relevant medical records. The Veteran's right shoulder disorder needs to be evaluated again.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless that he is in need of regular aid and attendance of another person or housebound status, thus his claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance and housebound is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. He needs an examination to determine if he requires aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance and housebound is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. He needs an examination to determine if he requires aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disorder and sleep disorder, as well as whether these conditions are related to service. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder disability and headaches has been granted. The decision on the left shoulder disability is based on direct evidence, while the headaches are considered secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder strain, left knee patellofemoral syndrome (lateral instability), and right knee patellofemoral syndrome due to inadequate examinations conducted in August 2010, September 2011, April 2012, and January 2016. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA examination to address the frequency, duration, characteristics, severity, and functional loss during flare-ups of his disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his claims, and a new examination is needed to determine if any left ankle disability is related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding his service-connected lumbosacral strain, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right shoulder impingement syndrome, and right lower extremity sciatica.

The Board has dismissed the claims for increased ratings for right shoulder disability, adjustment disorder including depressed mood, and TDIU as they are not currently in the legacy appeal system.

New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection of various disabilities, including neck disability (cervical spine degenerative disc disease), lumbar spine condition, left elbow condition, right elbow condition, left hand numbness disability, right hand numbness disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and ischemic heart disease (IHD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to a lack of clarity regarding which service-connected disabilities are causing his need for assistance. The case is now pending further examination and clarification.

The Board has denied service connection for visual disorder, loss of taste, peripheral vestibular disorder (dizziness), loss of memory, right shoulder disorder, and TMJ. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's spinal disorders.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability and bilateral hearing loss have worsened since the last VA examinations, and he is being asked to provide additional medical records. He will be scheduled for a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertensive heart disease has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that it was incurred in or aggravated by active service.,Service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities have also been denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of continuity or chronicity of any bilateral knee condition, and there is no indication that the Veteran is competent to etiologically link his symptoms to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psoriatic arthritis, degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, left shoulder, and left knee were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder condition, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and insufficient medical opinion to establish a link between current symptoms and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and/or depression due to lack of a VA examination. The claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder and right shoulder disorder remain in their final status as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a lower back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronic disorders during or after service.