Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and headaches, to include migraines due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to address secondary service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety, is granted as secondary to his left shoulder disability. The left shoulder disability is granted a 30 percent rating based on limitation of motion since March 7, 2022.

The Veteran's heart disability is granted as service-connected, while his left shoulder, right hand, left hand, right knee, and left knee disabilities are denied.

The Veteran seeks a higher initial rating for his service-connected left hip strain, but the current rating of 10 percent is considered the maximum under Diagnostic Code 5251.,Service connection for a right shoulder disorder is remanded and will be evaluated based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's right elbow condition is currently rated as 10 percent disabling for limitation of flexion. The Board found no evidence warranting a higher rating.,Service connection was denied for both the right and left shoulder disabilities due to lack of in-service injury or disease, and failure to establish a causal relationship with current conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right shoulder disabilities due to inadequate examination in June 2014. The examiner did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his ongoing symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and a left shoulder disability, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's use of crutches during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the severity of his right shoulder injury and functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and left knee disorders due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

Service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted. An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus, to include on an extraschedular basis, is denied. Service connection for a right knee disability and a compensable disability rating for service-connected scar of the left foot are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities due to incomplete development of private treatment records from Tennessee Orthopedic Therapy Services and Southern Pain Institute, as well as VA medical opinions.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated. The AOJ should obtain copies of VA treatment records for the Veteran's disabilities from October 2019 to the present, verify all active duty for training and inactive duty training dates for alleged service, and obtain his complete service treatment records. A VA examination must also be scheduled for the Veteran regarding his left shoulder disability, migraine headaches, and cervical spine disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus, right knee arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, and shoulder dislocation. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to inextricably intertwined increased rating claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her right shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional findings from a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left leg lymphedema, a left shoulder disability as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability, obesity as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability, and an increased rating for the left knee disability due to new evidence and updated examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and requests for additional information.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, and neck disability are remanded for further examination and opinion. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the thoracolumbar spine disability, service connection for a right shoulder disability as secondary to the lumbar spine disability, and service connection for a neck disability as secondary to the lumbar spine disability are also remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain and left shoulder strain were denied as they did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.,The Veteran's right hip strain with limitation of flexion was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent. The Veteran's right hip strain with impairment of the thigh also failed to meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

A 40 percent rating is granted for right shoulder degenerative changes status post arthroscopy effective March 15, 2021.,A separate 20 percent rating is granted for right shoulder dislocation associated with residual degenerative changes status post arthroscopy effective March 15, 2021.,Service connection for left shoulder strain is granted.