Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability and an increased rating for bronchitis, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on the lack of in-service or current medical records indicating a link between the disabilities and his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, back, and shoulder conditions. However, these claims are being remanded to obtain inpatient treatment records from Fort Chaffee Hospital related to a 105-howitzer incident during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) to include as secondary to his service-connected sleep apnea disability was denied. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 30 percent, but not higher.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder and headaches are granted service connection, with the right shoulder disorder receiving a separate rating under DC 6512 for near constant sinusitis characterized by headaches. The Veteran's headaches are not separately service connected as they are encompassed in his already-service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a right shoulder disability due to lack of substantial compliance with the May 2022 remand directives, specifically regarding notification and scheduling of a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hammer toes, pes cavus, right shoulder disability, and a back condition have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for any of these conditions.,There is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum available rating under Diagnostic Code 5201. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder strain but has remanded the case to determine the nature and etiology of any neurological impairment of the right shoulder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and bilateral shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the service treatment records.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's joint pain disabilities of the hands, elbows, legs, shoulders, and wrists are granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The claim for joint pain disability of the low back and musculoskeletal chest is remanded due to lack of a VA medical opinion addressing causation or aggravation by PTSD. The claim for headache is also remanded for an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for left shoulder arthritis with rotator cuff tendonitis from June 1, 2011 to February 28, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and a lumbar disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.,Service connection was denied as there is no medical link between the Veteran's current disabilities and his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address the Veteran's neck and left shoulder disabilities. The claims of service connection for these conditions are otherwise pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for right elbow joint pain, left elbow joint pain, right foot joint pain, left foot joint pain, back pain, right ankle joint pain, left ankle joint pain, right knee joint pain, left knee joint pain, and right shoulder joint pain. The Regional Office must obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the VA examinations inadequate for the left knee, back, right shoulder, and nose disabilities, and thus remanded these claims.

The Board denied entitlement to an extraschedular rating for left shoulder disability and TDIU on a schedular basis. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for referral to determine if TDIU is warranted on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral or cervical strain (cervicalgia) has been denied. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for left shoulder, right thigh, and left costochondritis disabilities have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for a right shoulder disability due to incomplete treatment records and the need for an adequate advisory medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient discussion of pain and flare-ups in the Veteran's left arm and shoulder, as well as an addendum medical opinion is needed.