Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities is granted, with a rating of 50%.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right elbow, left elbow, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities due to deficiencies in prior medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and back disabilities due to inadequate etiology opinions. The appeal is now in Remand status, and the RO should obtain new pertinent evidence and schedule a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, thoracic spine, and right shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions. The Veteran's current conditions are considered to be the result of normal aging processes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including psoriasis, cervical spine disability, low back disability, radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, left shoulder disability, residuals of a left fibula scar, and other conditions, have rendered him unemployable since August 23, 2013. The Board has granted TDIU benefits from that date.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the initial rating for left shoulder disability, service connection for low back disorder and arthritis, and a special monthly pension claim. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his disabilities and whether he needs aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, cervical spine disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The fourth issue is a request for an increased rating for stenosing tenosynovitis of the right thumb.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for low back and left shoulder disabilities, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is required to provide new medical opinions addressing her claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hernia disability, lumbar spine condition, cervical spine condition, right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the evidence does not show that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied an increased rating for right wrist sprain and remanded other service connection claims. Additional examinations are needed to assess the severity of left elbow olecranon bursitis, knee disability, back disability, neuropathy of hands/feet, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder disability, eye disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for cervical degenerative disc and joint disease, right shoulder disorder, sinusitis, and entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent disabling for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's cervical spine and left elbow disabilities are granted service connection. The right elbow and right shoulder disabilities remain in dispute, with the Board requesting additional medical opinions to determine their etiology. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total rating based on individual unemployability have been denied. The highest schedular rating of 20% has been assigned for chronic left ankle strain with arthritis, which is the maximum available under VA regulations.

The Veteran's psychiatric condition, hypertension, and right shoulder injury are found to be aggravated by his service-connected low back pain. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral shoulders and neck, finding no evidence linking these conditions to active service or a service-connected disability.,Both the bilateral shoulder condition and neck condition are considered 'direct' service connection cases, meaning they were not caused by a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded all service connection claims due to incomplete STRs and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claims include TBI, PTSD, insomnia, eye disorders, ear disorders, shoulder disabilities, back disability, and neck disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence.,Service connection has not been established for a left shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral shoulder conditions and foot disabilities prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to November 1, 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right shoulder, cervical spine, elbow, wrist, back, hip, ankle, foot, and psychiatric conditions. The decision also notes that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.