Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to insufficient development of evidence, including a need for new VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 17, 2015, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left great toe, left ankle, right ankle, and right shoulder disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and opinion regarding diabetes mellitus, hypertension, back disorder, neck disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and left shoulder disorder. Service connection is denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD evaluation, service connection for coccidioidomycosis, right clavicle disorder with scars, and arthritis in the shoulders, ribs, chest wall, and hands were all denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic right shoulder disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic right shoulder disability during or related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 9, 2021. The Board found that the Veteran was still employed at the time of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The case must be returned for adequate opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and has remanded the issue of assigning an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for intermittent subluxation of the right shoulder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, or reopening of previously denied claims have been granted. The case is remanded for further development on some issues.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has not been found to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent, as her range of motion does not limit it to less than 60 degrees flexion or abduction.

The Veteran's bilateral eye condition is denied, but his left shoulder condition is granted as secondary to a service-connected neck condition. The Board found that the Veteran has current disability related to the left shoulder and that it may be caused by his service-connected neck condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a back condition. The remaining issues of service connection for left shoulder, hip, and LLE nerve conditions are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy and a left shoulder condition due to secondary service-connected disabilities. The Veteran contends his conditions are related to in-service injuries, including pulling up during active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for right shoulder and neck disorders, leading to their dismissal.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been rated at 20 percent since May 6, 2021. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of motion to a level warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lower back disability and associated radiculopathy, result in loss of use of the lower extremities. The Board grants financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to this condition.

The Veteran's left shoulder tendonitis, lumbar strain, bilateral wrist strains, right ankle strain, and status post fasciotomy have been granted increased ratings. The service connection for a prescription medication condition, memory loss, hernias, fibromas of the left lower back, and TDIU has been remanded.

The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder and ankle, finding that the Veteran's claims were not filed within one year of his separation from service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the cervical spine and right shoulder conditions, so the Board dismissed these issues.