Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including her claim of overuse from in-service clerical work.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection claims due to his withdrawal of these issues prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a left shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding the examiner's findings on functional loss during flare-ups and repetitive use over time.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided were inadequate for decision making purposes, and thus remanding the cases to obtain further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA. The Veteran is also required to undergo new VA examinations for his acquired psychiatric disorders, hypertension, left knee arthritis, right shoulder injury, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of evidence.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals on multiple issues, including service connection and increased rating claims. The Board dismissed the appeal due to these withdrawals.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder capsulitis and regional pain syndrome. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess his disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including skin disabilities, lumbosacral spine disability, shoulder and wrist disabilities, and obstructive sleep apnea. The reasons for remand include the need for further medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder separation, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to new evidence added since the last SSOC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the exception of his claim for service connection for skin disability. The remaining conditions have been granted based on their direct relationship to service.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of current disability evidence.,Service connection is also remanded for TBI - Memory Loss from Possible Concussion, low back disability - Sacroiliac Joint Condition, and acquired psychiatric disability (including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and PTSD).

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder bicipital tendonitis, finding that the condition had its onset during active service and continued.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it is related to his service-connected cervical spine spondylosis with radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for tendonitis in the right shoulder, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and diabetes mellitus need further development due to incomplete records and a lack of an examination for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including right trapezius pain, was granted service connection. Since September 14, 2017, the Veteran's lower back disability is rated at 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, a psychiatric disorder (anxiety), sarcoidosis, squamous cell carcinoma (cancer of the head and neck), residuals of a tonsillectomy, scar status post thoracotomy, right ear hearing loss, and right shoulder disability due to in-service exposure to acoustic trauma. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim is granted for a temporary 100 percent rating for left shoulder replacement. The claim for service connection for chronic lumbar strain and facet syndrome, to include arthritis and discs is reopened. The claims for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder disability, service connection for chronic lumbar strain and facet syndrome, to include arthritis and discs, and service connection for sleep apnea are remanded.