Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for dextroscoliosis and right shoulder disability, as well as the TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for private medical records from identified providers, and a retrospective opinion on the severity of his service-connected dextroscoliosis must be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's OSA is related to service or his service-connected PTSD and/or left shoulder disability, as well as whether these conditions are aggravated by them.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the rating reductions were not proper. The appeals are remanded to further develop evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to January 12, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed. The Board also remanded several other claims, including those for an acquired psychiatric disorder and various musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Veteran's right shoulder contusion is rated at 40 percent disabling from December 12, 2014 to August 5, 2022. The Board denied an increased rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should have been afforded a VA examination to determine the etiology of his right shoulder condition, hypertension, GERD, and IBS. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's initial rating for left shoulder disability with degenerative arthritis is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating.,The Veteran's initial rating for MDD with generalized anxiety disorder is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his bilateral shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a proper VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for various conditions have been dismissed.,An increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric disability, migraines, left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities, lumbar spine disability, tinnitus, hypertension, left knee disability, right foot disability, and right leg scar, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For his back disability, he is currently rated at 20 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,His right shoulder capsulitis is rated at 20 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,His left shoulder capsulitis is rated at 20 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For his right elbow limited extension, he is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For his right elbow impairment of supination and/or pronation, he is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,His GERD is rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,For his right lower extremity radiculopathy, he is currently rated at 20 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's vertigo and back disorder were not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology was not established. The Board denies these claims.,The Veteran's GERD is not secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability or related to an in-service injury or disease. The Board denies this claim.,The Veteran's headaches were not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. Continuity of symptomatology was not established, nor is there evidence linking the current condition to an in-service injury or disease. The Board denies this claim.,The Veteran's right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, right hand disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder were not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. Continuity of symptomatology was not established, nor is there evidence linking the current conditions to an in-service injury or disease. The Board denies these claims.,The Veteran's right knee disorder and left knee disorder were not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. Continuity of symptomatology was not established, nor is there evidence linking the current conditions to an in-service injury or disease. The Board denies these claims.,The Veteran's neck disorder was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. Continuity of symptomatology was not established, nor is there evidence linking the current condition to an in-service injury or disease. The Board denies this claim.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety is found to be related to service, and service connection for this condition is granted.,His left shoulder arthritis is determined to be due to overuse from his work as a warehouse clerk during service, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it does not warrant a higher rating due to lack of limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left knee disability was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The appeals for right shoulder and low back disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities due to insufficient development and lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a recurrent right shoulder disability and testicular cancer residuals due to ionizing radiation exposure. The Veteran's active duty, active duty for training, and inactive duty for training with the Navy Reserve need to be verified, and all associated records should be requested.

The Board has restored a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and has remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher rating for his right shoulder and bicep tear.

The Veteran's low back condition is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her condition.,The Veteran's asthma is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her condition.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder and PTSD, is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her condition.,The Veteran's left shoulder impingement syndrome with arthritis is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her condition.,The Veteran's right shoulder arthritis and muscle spasms are remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her condition.,The Veteran's carpal tunnel and peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity, is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her condition.,The Veteran's vertigo is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her condition.,The Veteran's left knee condition is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her condition.,The Veteran's right knee condition is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her condition.