Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and determined that the Veteran is not entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The decision found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to the current left shoulder condition, and concluded that the right foot condition did not render the Veteran unemployable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral eye disorder and left shoulder disorder due to incomplete opinions in the VA examination reports. The Veteran will need updated VA treatment records, an addendum opinion on whether his eye condition preexisted service or was aggravated by it, and another opinion on whether his left shoulder condition is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and bilateral shoulder disorders due to insufficient etiological opinions in the VA examination reports. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and right shoulder disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is directly related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for neck, left shoulder, left hip, and left knee disabilities because the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred on active duty or in the line of active or inactive duty for training.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left shoulder strain is not related to her service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence did not show ankylosis or other conditions warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability is aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's ED is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with MDD. The remaining claims for increased ratings and service connection are dismissed due to withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records. The issues include right shoulder, right ankle, left ankle, neck, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of his left and right shoulder disabilities, finding that no increase in disability occurred prior to February 21, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and knee disorders due to potential issues with diagnosis and causation. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current conditions, which may be related to his military service or pre-existing right shoulder degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic allergies has been reopened and granted. The Veteran is now entitled to a compensable rating for conjunctivitis, effective from August 16, 2017. Other issues remain pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, despite his reported symptoms and educational background.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, hypertension, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service.,There is insufficient medical evidence linking the Veteran’s current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the reopening of claims for a left shoulder disability and TBI residuals, so these issues are dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct link between his military service and his current condition. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection due to any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for her left shoulder, left knee, right knee instability/subluxation, and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral arm disability, bilateral hand disability, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy are not supported by evidence of a nexus to service. The VA examiners found no direct link between these conditions and active duty.