Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, hypertension, respiratory disability, psychiatric disability, back disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral elbow disability, and bilateral shoulder disability. The evidence does not show current disabilities for any of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left ankle, left shoulder, and right knee conditions due to incomplete compliance with prior directives. The VA clinician must provide a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 20% prior to August 17, 2011 and at 30% from August 17, 2011 through April 19, 2016. The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, low back disability, and bilateral knee degenerative joint disease due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at the highest available disability rating of 70 percent, effective from September 14, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder condition, finding that there is no current diagnosis or functional impairment related to his right shoulder.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and compensation were dismissed. The Board also remanded two issues: service connection for a left shoulder disorder, and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, residuals of a radical tonsillectomy, and scar status post thoracotomy as there is no evidence that these conditions began during or are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral shoulder disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, and left shoulder conditions due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's statements and VA examinations will be reviewed to determine if there is a link between her current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions caused or aggravated his drug abuse, which led to his death.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for prior to October 15, 2009 is denied as he does not meet the schedular criteria and there is no persuasive evidence showing that his service-connected right shoulder disability alone rendered him unemployable.

The Board has denied service connection for anxiety disorder and a head injury, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a right shoulder injury.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted. The Board found that the evidence supported direct service connection for most of the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions regarding his claimed disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left leg and right shoulder disabilities, including range of motion testing in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing circumstances.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the claims for left shoulder, hand, hip, leg, and foot disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical disability. The claim for urinary incontinence is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right shoulder, left wrist, left arm, and left foot disabilities due to a lack of adequate VA examinations. The Veteran is asked to provide information about his medical providers and any records they may have.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations based on additional medical records obtained.