Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral knee disability was withdrawn during the hearing. The right shoulder disability remains in appellate status and is denied as it does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted, but his right shoulder disability must be remanded to determine if he meets the schedular requirement for consideration of TDIU due to other service-connected disabilities. The lumbar spine disability remains in appellate status and needs further review.,The Veteran's appeal for a rating higher than 10 percent for his lumbar spine disability is pending, as it requires additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to multiple issues remaining on appeal. The AOJ must review all new evidence and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20% and his back disability is rated at 40% effective August 12, 2020. The rating for the right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy remains at 20%.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder, knee, hand, and neck disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, heart disability, left knee pain, and migraines, have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment since November 11, 2005. A temporary total rating for convalescence associated with a right shoulder condition is denied, but a TDIU is granted effective November 11, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic arthritis, frostbite disability (right great toe), and sleep apnea have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that led to these conditions.,Additionally, the Veteran's current hip, shoulder, and sleep apnea disabilities are not considered related to his time in service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims for various conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to their collective impact, as he can still perform the physical and mental acts required by most jobs.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims. The Board has also remanded several issues including PTSD, thoracolumbar spine strain, right shoulder rotator cuff strain, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with Osgood Schlatter's disease, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with Osgood Schlatter's disease, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder disorder and sciatica due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran contends that her disorders are related to in-service injuries, but VA examiners have found no evidence supporting this claim.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent from October 9, 2019, and the Board has granted this rating.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted service connection. The left ankle osteoarthritis with anterior and lateral instability is granted a 20% rating effective December 12, 2017.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent evaluation for his right shoulder disability from February 26, 2014 to February 26, 2015. The issue of entitlement to an increased evaluation on or after February 26, 2015 remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a circulatory disorder and muscle or soft tissue tears was denied. The appeal for arthritis is being remanded.,Service connection cannot be granted as the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed circulatory disorder, muscle or soft tissue tear, or arthritis.

The Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, and right knee disabilities are all granted as service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for clarification on further right shoulder surgical procedures. The Veteran's increased disability rating claim for recurrent dislocation of the right shoulder with arthritis is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to November 22, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and multiple joint pain (neck, shoulder, or back) are being remanded due to the recent revisions in VA regulations regarding particulate matter exposure. The Board will seek additional clarification from the Veteran on which specific disorders he is seeking service connection for and whether any workers' compensation claims were related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened, and he is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the current severity of his conditions.,VA treatment records since November 2018 must be obtained. The Veteran may also need to provide authorization for non-VA medical facilities where he has received treatment for these conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened, and he is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the current severity of his conditions.,VA treatment records since November 2018 must be obtained. The Veteran may also need to provide authorization for non-VA medical facilities where he has received treatment for these conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened, and he is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the current severity of his conditions.,VA treatment records since November 2018 must be obtained. The Veteran may also need to provide authorization for non-VA medical facilities where he has received treatment for these conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened, and he is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the current severity of his conditions.,VA treatment records since November 2018 must be obtained. The Veteran may also need to provide authorization for non-VA medical facilities where he has received treatment for these conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened, and he is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the current severity of his conditions.,VA treatment records since November 2018 must be obtained. The Veteran may also need to provide authorization for non-VA medical facilities where he has received treatment for these conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened, and he is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the current severity of his conditions.,VA treatment records since November 2018 must be obtained. The Veteran may also need to provide authorization for non-VA medical facilities where he has received treatment for these conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened, and he is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the current severity of his conditions.,VA treatment records since November 2018 must be obtained. The Veteran may also need to provide authorization for non-VA medical facilities where he has received treatment for these conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened, and he is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the current severity of his conditions.,VA treatment records since November 2018 must be obtained. The Veteran may also need to provide authorization for non-VA medical facilities where he has received treatment for these conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened, and he is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the current severity of his conditions.,VA treatment records since November 2018 must be obtained. The Veteran may also need to provide authorization for non-VA medical facilities where he has received treatment for these conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened, and he is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the current severity of his conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an etiology opinion from a medical professional.