Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder arthritis as the appellant withdrew his appeal before the decision was made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder condition is aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder pain. The examiner needs to address if the Veteran's reliance on his left shoulder to compensate for his right shoulder pain caused or aggravated his current left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition is reopened, but the Board has remanded his secondary service connection claim to allow for an adequate examination and addendum opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for TBI, right shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability have been dismissed due to voluntary withdrawal of the claims.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity and left upper extremity were also dismissed due to voluntary withdrawal of the claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous directives, and a new medical opinion is needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder condition.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 29, 2007, due to combined service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran is also granted special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) based on the statutory housebound rate from December 30, 2008.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records need to be obtained and reviewed before the claims for service connection can be decided. The case is being remanded back to the AOJ for this purpose.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to an in-service injury and does not warrant secondary service connection due to obesity. The decision also addressed a claim regarding steroid injections for knee and back disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or ankylosis, and there was no evidence of impairment of the humerus, clavicle, scapula, or neurological/muscle group involvement.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the evaluations for left shoulder strain, right knee pain with Osgood-Schlatter disease history, and chronic bilateral epididymitis.

The appeal has been withdrawn for the earlier effective date claims. The Veteran's left shoulder disability and benign skin lipomas have been granted ratings, but the issues of service connection for PTSD, low back disability, and right lower extremity pain and numbness are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records from Sutter Coast Hospital. The Veteran is required to provide consent forms and VA will attempt to obtain any outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,A separate 10 percent rating for limitation of extension of the left knee is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 25, 2014, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, was denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent prior to April 13, 2017, and a rating in excess of 70 percent from that date.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was denied an initial compensable rating prior to December 30, 2019.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 20% from November 2, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not show ankylosis or other disabling conditions warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions were related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Veteran's claim for a chronic disability of the right shoulder is denied.

The Board denied service connection for chronic lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder disability, and right knee disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.,The Veteran's tinea pedis was also denied an initial compensable rating as the condition did not meet the criteria for a noncompensable rating under the General Rating Formula for the Skin.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder and hip disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not incurred in or related to his military service.