Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and sleep apnea have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities at the time of filing or during the pendency of these claims.,There is insufficient medical evidence to establish that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of either a left shoulder disability or sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in a signed February 2022 Appeals Satisfaction Notice.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding his employment history during the appeal period, despite meeting the schedular requirements for a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability may have pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service, or it may be related to a condition that did pre-exist service. The decision is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's disabilities, including right shoulder disability, psychiatric disability, thoracic and lumbar spine disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, femoral nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and right lateral collateral ligament sprain. The remand requires obtaining additional VA treatment records and scanning relevant documents into VistA Imaging or CPRS.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to service connection for various disabilities and requests for earlier effective dates, disability ratings, and special monthly compensation. The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's claim for Fordyce's granules (claimed as lip papules) was granted, while the claim for joint pain of bilateral shoulders was denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's right shoulder pain was severe enough to warrant seeking non-VA emergency care, and the closest VA facility was a two-hour drive away. The Board found that reimbursement for this unauthorized treatment is warranted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, right shoulder disorder, and sleep apnea have been granted. The claim for a left leg condition is denied. The TDIU claim prior to September 16, 2020, is also remanded.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure the Veteran receives fully adequate VA medical examinations and opinions regarding his claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 3, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, contact dermatitis, revision of an August 2008 rating decision denying service connection for depression based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE), and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension due to incomplete records. The Veteran's VA examinations are also needed.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder on a direct basis. The issue of secondary service connection to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine strain is remanded due to failure to obtain a medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities, as secondary to his service-connected neck disability. Additional development is needed to clarify the causal link between these conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 1, 2021, and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter, for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome; service connection for shoulder disability; and service connection for foot disability (claimed as trench foot). The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient rationale in the VA opinions and a need for new medical assessments.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right knee conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within one year of discharge, and that any current disabilities are not related to military service.

The Board found that the discontinuance of VR&E services in May 2015 was proper and that the Veteran did not qualify for independent living services at that time.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions began during or are otherwise related to military service.