Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for lower back, upper back, and right shoulder disabilities. The Veteran's current conditions are considered to be at least as likely as not related to his military service.,Left foot disability is not addressed in the decision.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 1, 2015 for the grant of a TDIU and basic eligibility to DEA benefits. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of that date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's melanoma of the left shoulder, which is presumed related to his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder bone cancer and metastatic cancer to the head and neck, finding that these conditions were caused or aggravated by exposure in service or due to a pre-existing condition (prostate cancer).

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 10 percent since March 1, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left shoulder strain, right knee arthritis, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since September 11, 2012.

The Veteran's syncope disorder, left shoulder disorder, head injury, loss of weight and muscle tone, and left arm disorder are not considered to be additional disabilities resulting from VA treatment.

The Board has ordered a new examination to address whether the Veteran's current left shoulder disability is related to his military service and/or secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability. The examination should consider all relevant evidence, including the October 1986 service treatment record.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, and various other conditions. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development of records and for additional examinations.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for right ankle, hand, arm, and shoulder disorders were granted. The appeal is granted on these issues.

The Board denied service connection for a right arm disability, finding that the evidence is not persuasive in establishing a relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, Raynaud's disease, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability due to unclear duty status during her periods of active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder and right hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including gastrointestinal disorder, pitting edema, chronic fatigue, chronic pain of the entire body, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, TMJ, migraine headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The reasons are that the Veteran did not attend necessary VA examinations as required by law.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his Direct Review request.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address pre-decisional duty to assist errors in connection with the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including headaches, TBI, shoulder disabilities, gastrointestinal issues, and fibromyalgia.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA medical opinion and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connection due to in-service exposure and persistence of symptoms.,Service connection for PTSD is denied as the Veteran does not meet criteria for a current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder condition is secondary to his service-connected left leg disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his service. The case is remanded for further development.