Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's right shoulder sprain with supraspinatus tendinitis and impingement syndrome is currently rated at 30 percent prior to December 9, 2020, and 40 percent thereafter. The appeal for increased ratings remains pending.,The Veteran's right wrist sprain is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, indicating satisfaction with the current rating and effective date for right shoulder degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand, left hand, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient opinions in previous VA examinations. The Veteran asserts these conditions are related to his military duties as a Heavy Vehicle Operator and secondary to his service-connected low back and elbow disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral shoulder disability and remanded the claims regarding arthritis of multiple joints and cervical spine arthritis. The case is being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and left shoulder disability are granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it is related to his service, as he has reported continuous symptoms since discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability was not incurred as a result of active duty service and is not presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for service connection for the left knee disability is being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tear and a low back disability. The appeal is dismissed for the remaining issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for left shoulder impingement syndrome status post rotator cuff tear with AC joint osteoarthritis are remanded due to incomplete development of the record.

The Board has determined that the VA's prior decisions regarding the Veteran's right acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis and dislocation are not fully supported by the evidence, necessitating further development.

The Board denied service connection for eczema, diabetes mellitus type II, atrial fibrillation, and a left shoulder disability as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred during active military service.,There is no medical or lay evidence linking any of the claimed disabilities to the Appellant's National Guard service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions that did not consider the Veteran's reported symptoms and history.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability was a congenital disease that preexisted service and did not worsen during service. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen his previously denied claims. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability and right shoulder arthritis and rotator cuff tear require further examination to determine their current severity. Additionally, a TDIU claim is raised by the record but needs to be developed before it can be adjudicated.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not have its onset in service or manifest within one year after service discharge.,The Board also denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, concluding that there was no evidence of such a condition during service and no credible claim of continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were previously terminated due to the expiration of his eligibility period. The Board has decided to remand this matter for further evaluation and determination of whether he currently has a serious employment handicap, which could potentially extend his eligibility.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining missing service records and verifying alleged exposure to chemicals. The Veteran's conditions include gastroesophageal disorder (GERD), obstructive sleep apnea, low back disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, neck disorder, right shoulder disorder, and residuals of a head injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The hernia disability, abdominal scar, fibromyalgia, acquired psychiatric disability (pending), left shoulder disability (pending), right shoulder disability (pending), left arm disability (pending), right arm disability (pending), left elbow disability (pending), right elbow disability (pending), disability of the small finger, left hand (pending), cervical spine disability (pending), left ankle disability (pending), right ankle disability (pending), left foot skin disability (pending), and right foot skin disability (pending) were not granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinus disability (pending), bilateral eye disability (pending), disability of the left eye cornea (pending), bilateral hearing loss disability (pending), tinnitus (pending), vertigo (pending), headaches (pending), and sleep apnea (pending) are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service connection claim for right shoulder numbness and tingling, as well as his TDIU claim.