Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to incomplete employment history and need for a combined effects opinion on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that his current condition did not have its onset during active service and is not otherwise causally related to any disease or injury during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck and right shoulder disabilities due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for GERD has been remanded due to lack of recent in-person examination documentation.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy claims are being remanded as the VA examinations were inadequate.,ED is secondary to service-connected conditions including medications taken for other disabilities.

The Veteran's initial rating for left elbow disability prior to January 25, 2013 was granted at 20 percent. A 30 percent rating was granted for the left shoulder disability from January 27, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis because his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right shoulder condition, but granted service connection for a low back condition. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical strain and lumbar strain have been granted earlier effective dates of July 9, 2010.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability has been granted. The Board finds the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current left shoulder rotator cuff issues and degenerative joint disease are due to repetitive-use injuries during active service.,The Veteran's service-connected right hip, right thigh, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities have been remanded for clarification of the July 2021 private opinion regarding obesity as an intermediate step. The examiner must provide a rationale addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, and if so, whether the obesity was a substantial factor in causing the claimed bilateral ankle, right hip, or right thigh conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected left hand disability has been remanded for an opinion on secondary service connection. The examiner must address both causation and aggravation to be deemed adequate. If aggravation is found, the examiner should attempt to quantify the degree of additional disability resulting from the aggravation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder disorder, cervical condition, and hypertension due to a procedural issue with the docketing of his appeal under the legacy review system.

The Board dismissed the appeal seeking service connection for a right knee condition.,The Veteran's claim to reopen his bilateral shoulder condition was granted, but the Board found new and material evidence did not relate to an established fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including cervical spine, right shoulder, left knee, and right ankle conditions. The issues are related to whether these conditions were caused or worsened by his military service.

The Veteran's HIV-related conditions are being remanded for further evaluation, including service connection for secondary psychiatric disability, bilateral hip and shoulder disorders, migraine headaches, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, hypertension, and testicular hypofunction.

The Veteran's combined schedular evaluation for compensation was 80 percent prior to June 12, 2019, and 90 percent thereafter. The Board finds that remand is warranted for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further development, including obtaining additional private treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability and denied service connection for a back disability. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder, is remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis (prior to October 18, 2019), and bilateral hallux valgus were all granted initial disability ratings. However, the Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis was denied a higher rating since October 18, 2019, and his right foot hallux valgus and left foot hallux valgus were each granted an initial disability rating of 10 percent. A separate 10 percent disability rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted effective February 7, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disorder, left knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, and bilateral foot disorder due to lack of medical evidence addressing these conditions during service. The Veteran's claim for PTSD is denied as there was no effective date prior to May 18, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The claims will be reviewed again, including obtaining new medical opinions and SSA records.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent prior to April 20, 2022 and denied a higher rating. From April 20, 2022, the Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 30 percent and also denied a higher rating.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including those related to the Veteran's left great toe, back, hips, shoulder, and heart conditions. The issues of service connection for cat scratch fever are also inextricably intertwined with these matters.