Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to failure of the Veteran to report for a scheduled VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered after the necessary development is completed.

The Veteran's initial rating for the left shoulder disability was denied, and a higher initial rating of 20 percent was granted from March 10, 2015 to November 1, 2018. The Veteran's thoracic spine disability received an initial 10 percent rating, which remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and issuance of a new Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand, wrist, and right shoulder disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 60 percent, effective from January 7, 2012. The appeal remains on hold due to remanded issues.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability and diabetes mellitus are also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient analysis and consideration of evidence, particularly regarding the Veteran's weightlifting injury during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the right shoulder condition, and the Board dismissed it.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete examinations, lack of recent VA treatment records, and need for additional development including SSA records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in excess of 40 percent for HNP of the lumbar spine with DJD and IVDS, a rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle sprain with DJD, a rating in excess of 10 percent for status post left ankle reconstruction with DJD, and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder degenerative arthritis with rotator cuff tear and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain was granted a disability rating of 30 percent from May 24, 2017 to September 18, 2020.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to new VA records added after the last SSOC.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence not previously considered, and will reconsider the service connection for a right shoulder disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for right and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient development of evidence, specifically a VA opinion that did not address the Veteran's statements about symptoms since service and the findings from previous examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The issues include left shoulder, left hip, right hip, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that his hearing loss began during service or was related to in-service noise exposure, and he failed to meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome and 10 percent for lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on limitation of motion or other factors.

The Veteran's attorney waived his right to attorney fees for the April 2020 rating decision that granted service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome, major depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to revise a November 1970 rating decision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) regarding service connection for a right shoulder disability. The effective date is set at September 29, 1970, which is after the Veteran's discharge from service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's service treatment records and a need for a new medical opinion regarding his right shoulder condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of left and right shoulder disabilities before the Board could make a decision.