Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's rating for his service-connected right shoulder condition was reduced from 30 percent to 20 percent effective April 1, 2014. The Board found this reduction improper and restored the original 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence or incomplete evaluations.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right shoulder disability and any associated nerve damage.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot, hip, ankle, and shoulder disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right elbow disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability and right shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to her active duty service. The claim for chest disability is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding its onset or relationship to service.,Service connection was established for low back disability and right shoulder disability based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder. His right shoulder injury and low back injury are denied due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's appeals for right knee disorder, left shoulder strain, bilateral pes planus, and left foot hallux valgus have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to greater than 50 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder, service connection for alcohol abuse, hypertension secondary to psychiatric disorder, and degenerative joint disease of ankles.

The Veteran's appeals for COPD, bilateral shoulder conditions, Peyronie's disease, skin cancer, right heel disability, peripheral artery disease of the bilateral lower extremities, entitlement to a compensable rating for residuals of a rib fracture, and earlier effective date prior to February 28, 2013 for the award of service connection for a rib fracture residual were dismissed. The Veteran's esophageal stricture was granted with a 50% disability rating. Service connection for coronary artery disease, osteoarthritis of the right wrist, and bilateral knees was also granted.

The Board dismissed all appeals for increased ratings and effective date claims related to various conditions, including cervical spine, left upper extremity radiculopathy, posttraumatic degenerative changes of the right ankle, right shoulder rotator cuff strain/tendonitis, degenerative changes of the left knee, degenerative changes of the right knee, sciatic nerve radiculopathies in both lower extremities, and femoral nerve radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent left shoulder injury residuals but has remanded the issue of service connection for a recurrent lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and back disabilities due to incomplete or missing service medical records. The Veteran is required to provide alternative sources of evidence, such as military records, statements from service medical personnel, and other relevant documents.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability ratings for post-operative scars from right ankle and left humerus surgeries are granted effective January 7, 2014, to May 20, 2021.,For the period since May 21, 2021, a higher rating is denied as there is no evidence of deep or non-linear scars or functional limitation.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and initial evaluations in several conditions due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee enthesopathy, right shoulder rotator cuff injury, hernia, gastroesophageal disease (GERD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder and dismissed the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for lumbar spine strain.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The right shoulder DJD issue is remanded for further evaluation, and the TDIU claim on an extraschedular basis is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back and left shoulder disabilities have been granted with effective dates prior to January 8, 2013.,The claim to reopen the right heel bone spur has been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a TBI was denied as there is no current disability of a TBI. The claims for right shoulder and left leg radiculopathy were granted.,Service connection was established for the right shoulder disability, which is considered direct service connection.