Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remands. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned to VA for further action.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted payment or reimbursement for the cost of medical treatment received at Banner Del Webb Medical Center on October 15, 2011 due to a prudent layperson's expectation that immediate medical attention was necessary.

The Board has denied service connection for left arm and left shoulder disabilities, finding that there is no current diagnosis associated with the conditions and insufficient evidence to establish a relationship between them and service or a service-connected condition.

Entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD with associated depression and anxiety is denied. The Veteran's symptoms are more closely approximated by a 50 percent disability rating.,Entitlement to TDIU is denied as the evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left shoulder disability and rib disability due to incomplete medical records and need for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and COPD disabilities due to outstanding VA treatment records not yet obtained. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and further evaluation of the Veteran's right shoulder arthritis.

The claims of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder condition, back condition (including IVDS), and Hepatitis B are reopened. However, the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition is denied. The Veteran's claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The decision is pending on whether she also has a left shoulder disability that is related to her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to the need to obtain additional records from his treatment at the Hampton VA Medical Center.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty-to-assist error. The issues of right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being addressed on the merits.

The Board has determined that there are duty to assist errors and the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for cervical spine disability and left shoulder disability must be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including lumbar spine, neck, left and right shoulder disabilities, esophageal conditions, and residuals of colitis, due to presumed herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports reopening the claims for service connection of left shoulder, right foot, and left foot conditions. The Veteran's left shoulder condition is found to be secondary to her service-connected left knee disability. However, the Board also finds that there is insufficient medical evidence to support a finding of aggravation of the Veteran's bilateral foot conditions by her service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases, as well as a new examination is required to assess his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) and remanded the claims for right ear hearing loss and a right shoulder disability.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities and his cervical spine disability rated at 10 percent. The increased rating claim for the neck disability was denied.