Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD; a neck disability; a left shoulder disability; and degenerative joint disease of the left knee. The evidence did not support the finding that these conditions had their onset during service or were otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right shoulder condition, and right knee condition due to insufficient medical opinions and potential exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy, left shoulder condition, urethra disability, fibromyalgia, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder strain is granted. The initial rating for his TBI with dizziness and unspecified depressive disorder remains at 40 percent, but the initial rating for headaches is increased to 50 percent. His ratings for bilateral knee ITB syndrome remain denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to inadequate examinations and remand instructions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an opinion linking the Veteran's current left shoulder disability to his in-service injury. The Veteran testified that he fell down some stairs on a submarine and injured his left shoulder, but no VA examiner has provided such an opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and an increased rating have been dismissed as the Appellant has withdrawn her appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an initial rating of 100 percent, effective from July 26, 2021. The issues of service connection for heart disease, left shoulder disability, residuals of fibroid tumor, and low back disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a VA examination. The Veteran is advised that any findings during the new examination will be critical to determining her right shoulder disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right knee, left knee, and left shoulder disorders due to a lack of VA treatment records prior to August 2011. The Veteran will be provided with additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examination opinions and failure to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a missed VA examination for the left shoulder disability. The Veteran needs to be scheduled for an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to incomplete medical examinations and lack of consideration of lay statements.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for cervical, lumbar, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral elbow disabilities are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions addressing his theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 40 percent from September 15, 2016 and denied for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent from February 1, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions. The Veteran's statements regarding injuries during service are considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete military personnel records and potential active-duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated medical records, VA examinations, and opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased ratings issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete VA medical opinions that did not address the Veteran's statements regarding his in-service injury and history of his conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any other compensable cause.