Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to physical limitations.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations obtained in March 2020 are inadequate and requires additional medical opinions to address all of the Veteran's diagnosed disabilities, including PTSD, bipolar disorder, and a right shoulder condition. The matter is therefore being remanded for these missing records and for medical opinions based on a complete factual history.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right hip degenerative arthritis, and right shoulder tendonitis. The decision is based on the Veteran's reports of continuous pain symptoms since service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence supports an etiological link to active duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right hip disorder, cervical spine disorder, and headaches are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The wrist and thumb disorders have also been remanded.

The claims for service connection for various conditions, including POTS, headaches, SVT, fatigue, joint pain/arthralgia, fibromyalgia, orthostatic intolerance, and chest pain have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and a left shoulder disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disorders and increased ratings for cervical spine strain, thoracolumbar spine strain, and radiculopathy of the upper extremities. The case is now before the Board again.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims.

The claims for TBI, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, breathing disorder (including respiratory and sinus conditions), tinnitus, and hepatitis C have been remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back arthritis, low back strain, bilateral shoulder arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral hip strain, including as a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The claims are being returned to VA for additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition is granted as secondary to his service-connected orthopedic conditions. Various issues of service connection and disability ratings are also granted or remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder condition, low back disability, right knee condition, and high blood pressure due to new evidence added to the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a left shoulder disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions being related to his military service or service-connected disorders.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to cold weather, foot disabilities, neck disability, knee disabilities, and shoulder disability. The claims are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining any form of gainful employment consistent with his work and education background.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right shoulder disability and TDIU have been remanded due to inadequate examination reports and the need for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain, bilateral shoulder strain, and left hand disability manifested by pain. The Veteran's continuous back, bilateral shoulder, and left hand pain symptoms since separation from service are considered.,Service connection is also granted for the aggravation of a pre-existing bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to higher ratings for left shoulder disability and bilateral hearing loss, as well as the issue of TDIU. The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent prior to April 25, 2012, with a separate rating of 20 percent granted for recurrent dislocation of the scapulohumeral joint. Bilateral hearing loss remains at 10 percent.