Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's hospitalization for alcohol dependency was not related to his service-connected right shoulder condition, and thus he is denied a temporary 100% evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, back disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder (heel), left ankle disorder (heel), and right knee disorder. Additional development is needed to obtain VA treatment records and provide medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, right shoulder condition, back condition, left shoulder condition, hearing loss, and lung condition. The reasons given were that there was no evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has withdrawn the issue of service connection for a right shoulder condition and remanded the issues of increased disability rating for spondylolisthesis and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for sinusitis was withdrawn, and the right shoulder disability claim was granted. The Board found that the current right shoulder disability is proximately due to his December 2009 motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for OSA was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, while the left shoulder disability was also denied due to lack of evidence showing symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The hearing loss claim was denied as the evidence did not show a compensable rating prior to September 8, 2021 and higher than 10 percent thereafter. The gunshot wound to the left shoulder muscle group IV claim was also denied as there was no evidence of a rating higher than 20 percent prior to August 25, 2021. A separate 20 percent rating for residuals of gunshot wound to the left shoulder muscle group III was granted effective December 6, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, lumbar spine (claimed as scoliosis), left knee, and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's claim of deviated septum was also denied.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, and/or depression), and left shoulder disabilities. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right hip, left hip (joint replacement), and left shoulder conditions due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including erectile dysfunction, dizziness (manifested by BPPV), right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, and headache.,No specific rating was assigned, nor is there an effective date provided in this decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, bilateral eye disability, and TDIU due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic headache disability and left shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to deficiencies in the VA examinations and other issues.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain, low back condition (lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine, intervertebral disc syndrome), and chronic headaches.,Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left wrist, status post fracture; service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus; and service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis. The Veteran will need new VA examinations for these issues.

The petition to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for back, knee, shoulder, migraine, and psychiatric disorders is granted. The appeal is allowed to that extent only.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to September 21, 2015 for PTSD and TBI have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates than October 28, 2016 for left knee strain and right shoulder status post labral, capsule, and rotator cuff repair have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder status post labral, capsule, and rotator cuff repair, and compensable ratings for residual surgical scars on the right shoulder and right knee have been dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and unclear opinions regarding the Veteran's left shoulder disability. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a qualified physician.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and arthritis of the left shoulder due to incomplete compliance with previous directives.