Shoulder decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and lung disabilities due to incomplete development of records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine condition, thoracolumbar spine condition, and bilateral shoulder condition due to lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and a low back disability, finding insufficient evidence to link these conditions to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from July 13, 2013 onwards.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of new and relevant service department records, resulting in a denial.

The Veteran's symptoms are accounted for by diagnosed conditions, and there is no basis for service connection based on undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for his left shoulder (minor) disability was increased to 20 percent in February 2019, but the Board has now determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his service, as well as the potential aggravation of these conditions by service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities due to errors in the previous decision, including failing to consider in-service diagnoses and outdated legal standards.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disorders due to a lack of sufficient medical evidence. The Veteran contends that his current shoulder conditions are related to his military service, specifically physical training in South Korea and Iraq.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities at least as likely as not result in him needing regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran regarding his jump status while in service. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these disabilities are at least as likely as not related to this in-service jump status.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the right shoulder condition is caused or aggravated by the service-connected left shoulder disability. A new VA medical opinion is needed.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, but granted service connection for lumbosacral spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's broken bones claim is denied as there is no current diagnosed condition.,The Veteran's migraine headaches claim is denied due to lack of a causal relationship with service.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability claim is denied based on the absence of a link between the 1994 car accident and current symptoms.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability claim is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or the 1994 car accident.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability claim is denied for similar reasons.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) claim is denied due to lack of a causal relationship with service.

The Veteran's mood disorder is rated at 70 percent since January 29, 2013. The Board also granted TDIU and SMC based on statutory housebound status effective June 9, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability and coronary artery disease do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to March 28, 2011 were denied as there was no unadjudicated formal or informal service connection claim before that date. The Veteran is only entitled to an effective date if it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability had occurred within the one-year period prior to March 28, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was denied as the evidence did not show that he incurred a chronic disorder from faulty medical care provided by VA.