Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has found that remand is necessary for adequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right shoulder, lumbar spine, and respiratory disabilities. The issues of service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU. The Board referred the case to the Director of Compensation Service for extra-schedular consideration due to his unemployability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disorders, including right shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, ankle, and foot conditions. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a causal link to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and ratings have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 0 percent, which is not compensable.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is service-connected. However, due to insufficient evidence regarding her right shoulder disability and whether it was caused or aggravated by her service-connected left shoulder disability, the case is being remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability has been granted, thus the appeal is dismissed. The case of service connection for a left shoulder disability remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various shoulder, knee, and back disorders due to insufficient medical evidence addressing whether these conditions are related to service.

Service connection is granted for asthma and rhinitis, with a presumption of exposure to particulate matter in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.,The Veteran's vertigo and dizziness are remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under current VA regulations.,The Veteran's left elbow fracture residuals are currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for a left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, and TBI, all claimed as secondary to his service-connected hydrocephalus. The remand also includes an examination of the Veteran's current symptomatology due to his hydrocephalus.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for right knee residual scar, service connection for chest trauma, and left knee disability have been denied. The Veteran's claim for TBI has been remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection of traumatic brain injury (TBI), right shoulder disability have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's generalized arthralgias, as it affects his lumbar spine and joints such as shoulders, elbows, knees, hands, and thumbs. The Veteran reported worsening joint pain since the last examination in March 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's osteosarcoma, right shoulder disability, and right hip disability are not service-connected as they did not begin in or are otherwise related to his active service.,The Veteran's left eye glaucoma is not service-connected as it did not begin in or be otherwise related to his active service. His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and are not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability, neck disability, bilateral shoulder condition, and nerve disability affecting the right upper extremity due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30% from December 30, 2013 to October 13, 2021. A separate 20% rating for glenohumeral joint dislocation of the right shoulder (nondominant hand) effective October 13, 2021 is granted. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating in excess of 40% for his right shoulder disability from October 13, 2021 is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, and a right shoulder disability (other than radiculopathy) are granted. The claim for sinus disability is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical, lumbar, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral elbow disabilities due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions, as well as left and right ankle and shoulder conditions have been granted.,All four of the Veteran's claimed conditions are considered to be related to her active military service.