Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee and shoulder disabilities have been remanded due to the lack of service treatment records. The Board finds that new evidence has reopened the claims, but further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI and headaches are rated at the maximum allowed, but his tinea pedis is not compensable. The Board found that he has right arm disability of nerve damage/muscle atrophy, vein damage, and injury (previously claimed as scars, status post brachial artery repair), a right shoulder disability, and right-hand arthritis due to willful misconduct.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities caused or aggravated his right shoulder disability. The TTR claim is also remanded as it depends on the outcome of the service connection claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including hyperlipidemia and morbid obesity disorder as a stand-alone condition, have been denied. The Board has remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea, gout, benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH), right shoulder disfiguring growth, right lower extremity skin disorder, and left lower extremity skin disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology is not established, and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's left shoulder disorder, including left rotator cuff tear with traumatic arthritis, bone spur on rotator cuff, and nerve impingement syndrome, is not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology is not established, and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and insufficient examination reports. The issues include total body condition, bilateral hand condition, bilateral shoulder condition, and left elbow condition.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from March 16, 2011 to March 27, 2012 due to his service-connected disabilities. Prior to that date, the evidence did not meet the criteria for schedular TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for left and right shoulder disorders, cervical spine disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, bilateral knee disorders, and bilateral ankle disorders due to conflicting opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records do not provide clear evidence of chronicity of care or treatment.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, shoulder, and arm disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no direct or secondary evidence supporting the claims.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right-sided brachial neuritis (C5-6) with shoulder pain and fatty liver disease need further examination and opinion to determine if they are related to his military service or other conditions. The cases have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right hip, shoulder, knee, and wrist disorders due to their secondary nature to bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. Additional development is needed including obtaining private treatment records and providing VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient information about his employment history and potential accommodations for his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left rotator cuff injury, spinal stenosis, and left shoulder arthritis have been granted. The decision is based on the evidence showing current disabilities and credible lay statements of in-service injuries or diseases.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the cases of sleep apnea and left shoulder disability for further development, including obtaining records related to a sleep study and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, left shoulder, and right shoulder conditions have been granted. The claim for service connection of the left knee condition has also been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that there was no in-service injury or disease and insufficient evidence to establish a current disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right shoulder disorder and a TDIU due to inadequate examination reports and unclear employment information.