Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and issuing a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC). The issues include ratings for various disabilities related to TBI, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, right shoulder, right knee, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left thumb sprain, right thumb disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, eye disability, ulnar nerve paresthesias, ankle and wrist disabilities, nausea, constipation, and other conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The remand requires an addendum opinion addressing whether these shoulder disabilities are aggravated by the cervical spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and a need for further examination to determine the nature, etiology, and relationship of the Veteran's recurrent right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as there was no diagnosis during service and it did not manifest within one year of discharge. The Board finds that the Veteran's current right shoulder strain with mild AC degeneration is related to his military service.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, left knee arthritis, and TDIU claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after discharge. The examiner concluded that the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is more likely age-related and not related to his military service.,For the right ankle disability, the Board denied service connection, stating that there were no complaints or findings of an ankle issue during active service or shortly after discharge. The x-ray showed a minor osteochondral lesion suggestive of tendonitis but did not establish a link to service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions obtained for the Veteran's left shoulder condition, Hepatitis C, GERD, and Erectile Dysfunction are inadequate. The claims are being remanded to obtain new examination and medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his PTSD and physical conditions like shoulder and back scarring, do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted a revision of the April 2010 rating decision, assigning a 20 percent rating for the right shoulder disability from November 21, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various hand, shoulder, elbow, and cold exposure injuries have been denied as there is no current evidence of any disabilities or their onset during service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is being remanded for a VA medical opinion to determine its etiology. The appeal will be considered on the merits of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of a left shoulder melanoma, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the condition and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, left upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and a left shoulder disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, hypertension (secondary to service-connected schizophrenia), heart disability, and residuals of a head injury due to incomplete examinations and lack of medical opinions. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations and obtain VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU. The issues of service connection for neck disability and heart condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and bilateral shoulder disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions. The Veteran's statements regarding symptom onset will be considered.

The Veteran's right shoulder pain and bilateral wrist pain are being remanded for further development as the current medical opinions do not adequately address the nature and etiology of these conditions.,Specifically, the VA examiners did not discuss functional impairment due to pain or provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's in-service exposure to environmental factors or MOS caused his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address whether the Veteran's right shoulder condition warrants separate ratings for distinct disabilities. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for sight deterioration, an acquired psychiatric disorder, cluster headaches, a right foot disorder, and a right shoulder disorder due to insufficient evidence or lack of nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder condition and a bilateral knee condition, finding no probative medical evidence indicating current conditions.,Both the Veteran's claimed right shoulder and bilateral knee conditions are not related to his active-duty service.