Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and medical opinions, and for considering whether separate ratings are warranted for the Veteran's reported symptoms of sleep impairment, crepitus, and problems with shoulder rotation as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder impingement syndrome.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and increased ratings. The main reasons are due to insufficient evidence and need for new medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right pinky finger disability. The other issues on appeal have been remanded due to outstanding treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder conditions due to an injury during her period of ACDUTRA. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if her current shoulder conditions are related to this incident.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder condition, but remanded the claims for left and right hip conditions due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of left shoulder impingement syndrome and residuals of a left ankle sprain, finding that there is continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches, lumbar spine disorder, and left shoulder disorder are remanded due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether his acquired psychiatric disorder, TBI, gastrointestinal disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, bilateral lower extremity disability, and back disability were caused or aggravated by VA care.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective date for tinnitus, additional compensation for a helpless child, and service connection for mitral valve prolapse, shin splints, right shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, IBS, and cervical spine disability has been dismissed.,Service connection was denied for right shoulder disability, bilateral hip disability, and IBS due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left shoulder conditions based on new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of their service-connected shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for a retrospective medical opinion and missing VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to December 3, 2019 is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the pending increased evaluation claim.

The Board has remanded all service connection claims for bilateral knee conditions, tailbone condition, bilateral foot conditions, right hip condition, back condition, and right shoulder condition due to missing military personnel records and incomplete STRs. The Veteran's lay assertions of in-service causation are also considered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder has been reopened, but the claim for skin condition of the feet and right shoulder cyst remains denied.,PTSD rating is granted at 70 percent prior to October 2, 2017, with remanded issues regarding PTSD ratings greater than 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to August 12, 2008, for service connection for fibromyalgia and his claim of entitlement to a left shoulder disability have been dismissed.,The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted service connection. The Veteran is also entitled to a rating of 40 percent for fibromyalgia and a rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of his right shoulder condition has been dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current condition is more likely due to his obesity, which was caused by his service-connected bipolar disorder.,Service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis and tear has been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination regarding his dental disorder, left ankle disorder, lumbar spine disorders, cervical spine disorders, inguinal hernia, cauda equina syndrome, shoulder disorders, radiculopathy, neurogenic bladder, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of her service-connected left shoulder disability has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart condition and left hand condition have been remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.