Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The appeal seeking entitlement to a right foot injury is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for left ankle, right ankle, cervical spine, and left knee sprain.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left knee sprain are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and testimony presented during her hearing. The issues of left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, and carpal tunnel syndrome (bilateral upper extremities) are being addressed on the merits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral shoulder conditions, specifically her claim for service connection. The Veteran is required to provide an addendum opinion from a VA medical professional addressing her lay testimony of shoulder pain since service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating greater than 20 percent for right shoulder bursitis with arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional information regarding flare-ups and functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment for the period from November 15, 2012 to February 15, 2013, and granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, finding that it is related to his in-service injury and continuous symptoms since then.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting statements and lack of clear documentation in his records.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, eyebrow scar, right ankle small chip off medial malleolus, and left ankle posttraumatic degenerative joint disease are remanded for further consideration.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of all listed conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right knee strain, prior to January 4, 2019 for right shoulder arthritis, and after January 4, 2019 for right shoulder arthritis have been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection for a right elbow disorder, bilateral foot disorder, nasal scar, and TDIU are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran has multiple service-connected conditions, including atrial fibrillation, hypertension, degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral spine, right shoulder arthroplasty, left shoulder debridement, right knee replacement, and status post left knee ACL reconstruction. The appeal is remanded to allow for further evaluations and determinations regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his right shoulder biceps tendonitis is being remanded due to the need for additional consideration of newly received evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder arthritis and degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure. The Veteran's claims were remanded for further consideration regarding hypertension.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities have been rated at 20 percent each, but the Board has determined that these ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.,The VA examinations conducted throughout the appeal period did not support a higher rating for either shoulder disability.

Service connection for low back disorder (degenerative arthritis of the spine) is granted.,Service connection for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left knee disorder are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right shoulder disability, neck disability, and right ankle disability are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.,Service connection was denied for the right hip, leg, and groin disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and has denied service connection for this condition. The remaining issues are remanded due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to lack of a current diagnosis. The case was remanded for further examination on the left wrist and right wrist disabilities.