Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for various shoulder and hip conditions due to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of information regarding the appellant's request for discharge upgrade, and is seeking additional records from the Army Review Boards.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left shoulder osteoarthritis and associated peripheral neuropathy warrant a higher disability rating than 20 percent. However, further development is needed to clarify if the 'Popeye deformity' is related to his service-connected shoulder condition or if it is a separate issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and right shoulder disabilities, as well as remanded his claim for a right knee disability. The decision also noted that the Veteran's current knee conditions did not manifest until many years after service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for a left shoulder condition due to new evidence submitted, but has remanded it for further examination and opinion regarding service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for major depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and several other conditions are granted. The remaining issues of service connection for knee, shoulder, headache, sleep apnea, and diabetes disorders are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for a back disability is granted. The Board has also remanded the claims of service connection for right shoulder, bilateral hands, bilateral knees, and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient competent medical evidence on file.

The Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder are granted service connection, while his hypertension, right knee disorder, and right shoulder disorder are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that it is not related to his active duty service or caused by or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his active duty and current condition. The Board also found insufficient evidence linking any secondary service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding bilateral shoulder condition, right ankle reconstruction with residual scar, and lateral collateral ligament instability of the left knee due to the appellant's withdrawal request.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, which includes arthritis and status post rotator cuff repair, is related to his service-connected left knee and left ankle disabilities. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the issues of increased ratings for right shoulder bursitis and right knee chondromalacia, as well as service connection for vertigo and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left shoulder disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of competent evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including service treatment records from Landstuhl, Germany. The Veteran will need a VA examination and additional service records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the gastrointestinal disability and left shoulder disability claims, including obtaining medical opinions to address service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and medical opinions due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's request for an increased disability rating for his left shoulder disability is remanded due to outstanding treatment records. The RO must obtain and associate these records with the claims file.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, Lumbosacral Degenerative Joint Disease, Left Shoulder Strain, Right Shoulder Strain, Cervical Spine Degenerative Joint Disease with Spondylosis, Tinnitus, and Right Knee Meniscal Tear Residuals, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).