Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The claims include service connection for various back and arm disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as his right knee DJD and instability, are not rated higher than the assigned percentages.,Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and left leg disability have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neck condition, and back condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot disability and right shoulder disability have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hemorrhoids has also been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not sufficiently severe to inhibit his ability to obtain gainful employment, and the Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability as secondary to his right shoulder disability was granted. However, the claims for higher ratings for coronary artery disease prior to February 17, 2021, and from that date onward were denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for a left knee condition, left shoulder strain, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified anxiety disorder) is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disability, specifically related to any associated neurological condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder and left elbow conditions due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's lay statements and VA opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate addendum opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder, right shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities. The examiner must provide an opinion as to whether these conditions were aggravated by service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address outstanding treatment records and obtain private medical records. The Veteran's claims for TBI residuals, vertigo, low back disability, shoulder disabilities, and heart disorder are also remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities due to conflicting medical evidence and lack of a clear opinion on the etiology.

The Veteran's appeals for right ankle disability, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder, wrist, elbow, and cervical spine disabilities as secondary to a lumbar strain. The Board found no current disability in these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete records, including physical therapy treatment records. The Veteran is also requested to provide a detailed employment history.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate addendum opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disability, specifically whether it is caused or aggravated by service-connected back and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine DJD, right knee DJD, left knee DJD, left shoulder DJD, right foot pes planus, and left foot pes planus. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected traumatic arthritis, left shoulder, status post strain with calcific tendinitis is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge was not based on willful misconduct and is therefore not a bar to VA disability compensation benefits. The appeal for service connection of the left shoulder injury is granted.