Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory condition of chronic cough, but withdrawn the appeals for chronic fatigue syndrome and right shoulder condition.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder disorder, sinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis, sleep apnea, and throat disorder due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or causal connection to service.,There is no evidence that the Veteran sustained or developed chronic disorders as a result of his in-service bee sting reaction or exposure to environmental hazards.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder condition, and headache condition due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or causation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various musculoskeletal and auditory disorders due to the need for additional medical evidence and new opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient development and opinion regarding her cervical spine, left shoulder, bilateral knee, and headaches disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to verify her period of active duty for training or inactive duty for training, obtain any outstanding reserve service treatment records, and provide VA opinions on whether these conditions are related to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding no evidence linking the condition to service or exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's STRs did not show any complaints or diagnoses related to his left shoulder during service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed back, neck, and right shoulder disorders based on credible lay evidence of in-service injury and continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and initial rating for her right shoulder recurrent rotator cuff tear has been granted. The issue of an increased rating for her low back disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various knee and ankle disabilities, as well as a right shoulder disability due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service injury and continuity of symptoms are considered.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 70 percent effective from April 7, 2006. The Board granted a higher rating for the right shoulder disability and denied entitlement to SMC based on loss of use of the hand.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right elbow, right shoulder, chest, and dental conditions due to further development being needed.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected right shoulder disability from June 2, 2011 is denied. The appeal for entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for another VA opinion addressing secondary causation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder arthritis, as well as a rating in excess of 30 percent for his right ankle sprain, have all been denied by the Board. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted as service connected. The claims for pulmonary disorder (including pneumonia and COPD) and bilateral foot disabilities are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for migraines has been granted, and his TDIU has also been granted. The issues of service connection for pancreatitis, right shoulder disability, and PTSD have all been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence being added to the file since the last decision. The AOJ must consider this evidence before any further action is taken.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disorder, finding that there was no link between the current condition and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, left knee, and low back disabilities due to inadequate opinions in July 2021. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right hip, left hip, arthritis in multiple joints except hips, knees, and shoulders, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence of current disabilities.,There is no medical evidence showing the Veteran has any current hip or joint disability, including arthritis. The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions.

The Veteran's GERD with ulcerative colitis, status-post cholecystectomy, is granted a 30 percent disability evaluation. The left shoulder impingement, status-post clavicular fracture, is granted a 20 percent disability evaluation.