Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various spine and foot disorders due to incomplete records and a change in address.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for residuals of heat injuries, left shoulder disability, heart disability, and migraines due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's skin disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and left shoulder disability have been granted service connection. The Veteran is awarded a non-compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss and the claim for an increased rating for his left shoulder disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected left shoulder disability due to inadequate compliance with previous remand instructions regarding range of motion testing.

The Board has denied service connection for lateral epicondylitis of the left and right elbows, as well as osteoarthritis of the left and right shoulders. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to January 11, 2013 is remanded due to the possibility that he may be unemployable by reason of service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that any current condition is not related to active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder osteoarthritis and a separate rating of 20 percent for left shoulder dislocation was denied. The highest available ratings under the applicable VA regulations were granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder torn AC joints and remanded these issues due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The remaining issues are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches, right upper extremity neuropathy, urinary dysfunction, asthma, and various knee and ankle disorders, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to April 1, 2020.

The Board has ordered remand for additional development to ensure compliance with prior remand directives, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions regarding the full range of motion throughout the appeal period (since October 2009) and addressing functional loss during flare-ups. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder disability and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability and diverticulitis were denied service connection as there was no evidence of a direct relationship to his military service, including exposure to environmental hazards.

The Veteran's increased functional impairment of the left shoulder due to pain and impingement syndrome was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. The progression of his pre-existing degenerative arthritis is considered reasonably foreseeable.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left shoulder disorders. The claim is being returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right shoulder condition, variously diagnosed as rotator cuff tendonitis, glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, and acromioclavicular joint separation, are granted service connection. The Veteran is also remanded for a determination on bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that his current condition is related to in-service symptoms and granting the presumption of continuity.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility are granted effective January 1, 2017. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities impacting his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial for service connection for cervical spine, hip, and shoulder arthritis is remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, left shoulder, and right ankle disabilities are all rated lower than the maximum allowed. The Board has remanded these cases for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for cystitis as secondary to service-connected pyelonephritis and for a left shoulder disorder, finding that the evidence is in equipoise regarding these claims.