Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional evidentiary development being required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee, hip, and shoulder disabilities are not related to his service due to incomplete medical opinions. The claims for these conditions are being remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities due to new evidence received since the February 2015 rating decision. The claims are now remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent since December 23, 2019. The earlier effective date of May 1, 2015 for the 30 percent rating assigned for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine has been granted.,The Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities are each currently rated at 20 percent since the appeal period began on May 1, 2015. The initial ratings in excess of these percentages have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of varicose veins of the right lower extremity was dismissed. For his left ankle sprain, a rating in excess of 10 percent is granted as of January 17, 2018. Service connection for left shoulder strain is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for lumbar sprain/strain and right shoulder degenerative joint disease with rotator cuff tear and labral tear including superior labral anterior-posterior lesion are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain, left shoulder derangement/impingement syndrome, right knee limitation of extension, and right knee limitation of flexion are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and denied an increased rating for a left index finger disability. The case also involves a remanded issue regarding the Veteran's right hand symptoms.

The Board remands the issues of service connection for a RIGHT shoulder disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrists; service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability; an initial rating greater than 10 percent for a LEFT ankle disability; and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for carpal tunnel syndrome of both wrists. The remand is necessary to obtain additional evidence, including VA treatment records and medical opinions.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability, as additional development is necessary.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for hypertension and remanded the claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, right and left hand numbness, and right and left knee disorders.

The Veteran was granted a temporary total rating for convalescence of his service-connected left shoulder disability effective November 20, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for unspecified osteoarthrosis and arthritis, a disability manifested by chronic pain, a right shoulder disability, and hypertension as the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's tension headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

The appeal for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for loss of use of both buttocks was denied as there is no evidence that the incident caused a permanent disability resulting from carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on VA's part.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and TDIU. The Board found that there was no evidence of an in-service injury to the left shoulder, and thus service connection could not be granted. The Veteran met the schedular criteria for a TDIU based on his combined disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder arthritis, as these conditions are not directly linked to his military service. The Board requested additional records related to a reported parachuting incident in 1958 where five soldiers were killed and one hundred injured.

The Veteran's right shoulder posttraumatic arthritis, left knee strain, and left knee meniscus tear with osteoarthritis have been granted increased ratings as of January 24, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left shoulder condition, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected disabilities.