Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a respiratory disorder is dismissed. The claim for increased rating of hypertension from January 4, 2020, and no earlier, is granted. The claims for service connection of right shoulder condition and right knee condition are remanded.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder bursitis, as well as his left and right knee pain, are now rated at 20 percent each. The decision is effective from the date of the rating decision.

The Veteran is granted TDIU from April 22, 2016, to September 21, 2020. The right shoulder disability claim remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, hypertension, lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, right elbow disability, and right wrist disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tuberculosis is also being remanded due to the need for an examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for a left shoulder disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder strain, impairment of left humerus, and left shoulder scar prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's application for a special home adaptation grant was denied because he does not have service-connected loss of use of his hands or a permanent and total disability due to residuals of a severe burn injury. The Veteran's asthma is not considered an inhalation injury related to a fire environment, thus not qualifying him for the benefit.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left shoulder strain, fibromyalgia secondary to PTSD, sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to PTSD, and peptic ulcer disease (PUD) secondary to anemia and/or PTSD due to insufficient medical opinions in the April 2016 VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied service connection claims for inguinal hernia, right shoulder disorder, eye disorder, heart disorder, gastrointestinal disorder (including GERD, hiatal hernia, esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, and chronic gastritis/duodenitis), and low back disorder. The Board has also remanded these issues to obtain additional evidence and for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for GERD, stomach condition, left shoulder condition, and acquired psychiatric disability due to new evidence added to the record since the last Statements of the Case.

The Veteran's application for reimbursement of beneficiary travel expenses from August 22, 2018, through September 19, 2018 was timely submitted and the appeal is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to Gulf War illness for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions, including genetic autoimmune disorders, joint pain, uveitis, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 10 percent and a higher rating of 20 percent is sought. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the condition, including a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, chronic headache, and left shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during or were related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and sustaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 27, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate development following a previous Board remand. The issues of rating his RLE neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome and sciatic nerve radiculopathy, bilateral shoulder scars, and neck disability are all being reconsidered.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed bilateral hip, knee, and shoulder disabilities as secondary to her service-connected cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were caused or aggravated by her spine disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist; upper back/bilateral shoulder pain; and bilateral foot pain. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence linking the conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease. The cases of right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis were restored to a 10 percent rating from October 5, 2015.,A 10 percent rating was granted for the Veteran's right and left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis prior to January 8, 2020. However, ratings in excess of these levels are denied.