Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification on whether the Veteran's left shoulder disability is caused by or has been incrementally increased in severity by his service-connected lumbar spine or cervical spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to their death.

The Board denied service connection for various orthopedic conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, right ankle disability, and left hand disability. The evidence did not show the presence of a current disability in any of these areas.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine and a left shoulder disability due to inadequate medical opinions in prior decisions. The Veteran's reports about his symptoms will be considered, along with any new evidence provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded due to an inadequate VA medical opinion. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for right hand finger, osteoarthritis of the left foot, cholelithiasis, and right shoulder as they are not related to service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic neurologic disorder, CFS, muscle pain in hands and feet, liver lesions, unexplained weight loss, and Meniere's syndrome as the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of these conditions. The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for Meniere's syndrome is granted.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings for right and left shoulder surgical scars prior to May 7, 2019 were denied. From that date onwards, a 10 percent rating was granted for both the right and left shoulder surgical scars.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of left shoulder and right wrist disorders as these conditions were already granted in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability rating for various conditions are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain is rated at 20 percent prior to May 23, 2016 and denied for higher ratings thereafter. The left knee patellofemoral syndrome and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's claimed conditions are inadequate and remanded to obtain new, adequate opinions. The claims for service connection for various disabilities remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for low back degenerative disc disease. The issues of service connection for left shoulder and right shoulder conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, left shoulder, and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy disabilities due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The addendum opinions are needed to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service symptomatology.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, as well as the low back disability, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right shoulder disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not show that either shoulder is limited to less than 90 degrees of abduction or flexion, which would warrant a higher rating under the current VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, migraines, and physical impairments of the right shoulder, knees, back, and eyes, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective November 2, 2015.

The Veteran's trixaicin cream was not used in conjunction with a service-connected skin disability, thus the clothing allowance claim for 2016 is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded due to an inadequate VA medical opinion and a duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded due to an inadequate VA medical opinion and a duty to assist error.