Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded several issues including increased ratings for headaches, right shoulder strain limitation of motion, and left ankle disability, earlier effective dates for the awards of these disabilities, and a TDIU determination.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, low back disability (including radiculopathy), left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for low back disability, service connection for left shoulder disability, and service connection for right shoulder disability are all remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracic outlet syndrome, right upper extremity. The case is remanded to determine the appropriate disability rating and to obtain etiology opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities. His claim of entitlement to a TDIU is based in part on impairment from those disabilities, which could lead to additional SMC if granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability and right ear hearing loss are service-connected. However, his claim for sleep apnea is remanded as there was insufficient evidence to determine its etiology.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of a left shoulder disorder, and the Board has dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder disorder/injury, neck disorder/injury, and jaw injury due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection of various disabilities, including right shoulder, left leg, and neck conditions, need further development due to inadequate previous medical opinions. The Veteran's reports about his symptoms will be considered in determining the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral shoulder disabilities, right ear hearing loss disability, and back disability. The issues include seeking service connection for these conditions and rating adjustments.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The VA will obtain new examinations and retrospective assessments to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the left ankle disability as secondary to hypermobility syndrome. The decision is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including as secondary to service-connected depressive disorder and/or left and right shoulder disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, an eye disability, hearing loss in the right ear, cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, left foot disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The remand requires additional development to address the claims.

The Veteran's request to increase his disability rating for cervical spine C5-6 degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease has been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the claims of service connection for left and right shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder are granted as they are at least as likely as not related to service.,Right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board has dismissed all issues of rating and service connection for various conditions, including major depressive disorder, amputation-related injuries, arthritis, shoulder conditions, hearing loss, headaches, heart conditions, and elbow/shoulder arthralgia. The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's TDIU claim before March 28, 2014 is remanded as there is a reasonable possibility that he was unemployable by reason of service-connected disabilities.