Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's statements about chronic or continuous symptoms since her in-service injury were not credible and that there was no causal relationship between her current condition and the September 2000 in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's depression and obesity, which is necessary for service connection of sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's employment conditions from January 23, 2007 were consistent with those of a marginal or protected employment situation due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board granted the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from January 23, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation (SMC) prior to January 31, 2017 was denied because he did not meet the criteria for SMC based on a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, sleep disorder, and kidney disease. Service connection was granted for macular degeneration.,Service connection for the left shoulder disability, sleep disorder, and kidney disease was not established due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and temporary total evaluation for right shoulder disability due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's service records and incomplete medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of a gunshot wound, finding that there was no credible evidence to support an in-service injury and thus not meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability, finding that it is as likely as not attributable to his combat service.

The Board denied service connection for neck, low back, right shoulder, left shoulder, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, right knee, left knee, right leg, left leg, right foot, and left foot disorders due to a lack of evidence showing their onset during or within one year following active service.,The Board found that the Veteran's neck and low back disorders are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, including impingement, rotator cuff and bicipital tendonitis, glenohumbral osteoarthritis, and acromioclavicular osteoarthritis, is being remanded for further evaluation. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the right shoulder disability claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected total right shoulder replacement is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current extent and severity of his disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left shoulder disability is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and etiology opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as a bilateral hip disability due to potential aggravation by his service-connected cervical myofascial pain syndrome/right trapezes myositis. Additional development is needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and dextroscoliosis, cervical DJD, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, bilateral shoulder degenerative arthritis and DJD, bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculoapthy, plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spur, tinea corporis, and varicose veins are all granted. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated at 70%.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, hammertoes, obstructive sleep apnea, psychiatric disorder (other than posttraumatic stress disorder), right knee disorder, right hip disorder, right ankle disorder, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, and back disorder. The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral shoulder and knee disorders, but granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis and DDD. The appeal is not about service connection at all in the case of a bilateral hip disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete documentation and needs further evaluation by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) and VA medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right shoulder disorder, a right arm disorder, and an eyesight disorder due to inadequate opinion regarding secondary service connection. The Veteran's disabilities are being evaluated again with a focus on whether they were aggravated by his service-connected conditions.