Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to March 13, 2018 due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's employment and earnings history during that period. The appellant is required to provide this additional information.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder and back disabilities due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations and a need for further consideration of the Veteran's left shoulder disability claim, including assessing functional ability during flare-ups or upon repetitive use.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for DJD left shoulder, thoracolumbar spine scoliosis, and cervical spine scoliosis have been dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right shoulder musculoskeletal condition is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for Parkinson's disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to support his claims of a back disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, bilateral shoulder disabilities, OSA, and headaches. The claim for vitamin D deficiency is denied as it does not constitute a recognized disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for throat cancer, loss of salivary production due to treatment of throat cancer, and right shoulder limited range of motion due to treatment of throat cancer were denied. The denial was based on the absence of evidence supporting a direct relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's right shoulder condition, including a SLAP tear and osteoarthritis, is being remanded for an addendum VA medical opinion to determine if it was aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition and associated scars were denied, with the effective date being September 14, 2020.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for another VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left shoulder strain is related to service, including an in-service diagnosis of impingement syndrome.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of all periods of service and updated examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of right knee condition, bilateral hip condition, PTSD, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The Board has granted service connection for residuals of superior labral tear in the right shoulder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the VA examiner regarding the Veteran's back disability and whether it is at least as likely as not caused by a single incident of in-service treatment. The right shoulder disability claim remains denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a neurologic disability of the left lower extremity, including peripheral neuropathy (PN) of the LLE is granted. The claim for left shoulder disability and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) remains pending.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder disability, sleep apnea, right ankle degenerative joint disease, bilateral degenerative joint disease of the hands, irritable bowel syndrome, and erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD) have been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine, GERD, bilateral knee disabilities, and bilateral shoulder disabilities due to inadequate reasons and bases in previous decisions. The issues are being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for all issues, including the rating for left rotator cuff tendonitis and low back strain.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, left shoulder scars, and left shoulder strain and degenerative joint disease were denied. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the claim for a new VA medical opinion to address the Veteran's left shoulder disability, which is currently considered secondary to service-connected neck or back disabilities.