Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on housebound status, finding that he did not meet the criteria for such benefits prior to September 19, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for joint pain, GERD and hiatal hernia, and sleeping disorder due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.

The Board has determined that additional development is required to address the Veteran's left shoulder disability, including determining if he meets the technical definition of flail shoulder and whether his condition warrants a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right shoulder disabilities due to lack of in-service records. The VA is instructed to attempt to obtain these records and, if possible, provide the Veteran with VA examinations.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendonitis and back disability have been rated at the maximum available under VA regulations, with no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions warranting higher ratings.,For her lower extremity radiculopathy, a separate rating is granted from January 31, 2014 to June 13, 2016; however, a higher rating is denied after that period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, did not render him unable to obtain and maintain a substantially gainful occupation before March 27, 2019. After that date, his non-PTSD disabilities also did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for back, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities due to inadequate examination opinions. Further development is needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left arm/shoulder disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or any service-connected conditions. The most probative medical opinions found that the Veteran's left arm/shoulder disability did not have its onset in service and was not caused by his service-connected thoracic spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability because of service-connected disabilities, finding that there is no evidence showing that his service-connected conditions prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for subluxation, right shoulder. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disorder. The Veteran will need a new VA examination and an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated as 20 percent prior to October 24, 2017 and denied a higher rating.,For the period from October 24, 2017, the Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all his claims, including service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, a right shoulder disorder, a left shoulder disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, a left knee disorder, a right ankle disorder, a left ankle disorder, and a bilateral foot disorder. As a result, the appeals are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability and a cervical spine disability, both secondary to his service-connected multiple myeloma. The case is being returned for further development with respect to obtaining additional medical records and providing addendum opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hand, shoulder, knee, carpal tunnel syndrome, and headache disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or were related to active service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, neck disorder, back disorder, and right knee disorder. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has determined that new evidence submitted by the Veteran since the last denial of service connection for intestinal disability, prostate cancer, kidney disease, COPD, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, anxiety disorder, headache disability, and left shoulder disability warrants a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for intestinal disability, prostate cancer, kidney disease, COPD, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, anxiety disorder, headache disability, and left shoulder disability are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that is relevant to the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began in service or are related to service.,New and relevant evidence has not been submitted to support the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on housebound status because he did not meet the criteria at any point prior to September 19, 2018.

The Veteran's entitlement to clothing allowances for the use of a right knee brace and shoulder harness/hand/elbow brace is granted, but not for the privately obtained hand/elbow brace.