Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims for service connection can be adjudicated. The claims are remanded for new examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current disability of tinnitus and there is an in-service event, as he was exposed to hazardous noise during his active duty as an aircraft fueler. The Board resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and grants service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The VA examiner found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, as his hearing thresholds do not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg neurological condition (right leg disability) is denied. There is no evidence of a current diagnosis related to a right leg neurological condition and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability is remanded. The VA examiner found that the Veteran does not have a definitive diagnosis related to his right shoulder disability, and further examination is needed to determine if his pain in his right shoulder has caused a functional impairment.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition is remanded. The January 2018 VA medical opinion found that the Veteran's in-service low back strain is unrelated to the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease, as strains do not cause degenerative disc disease (DDD).,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder, low back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional medical records from Dr. E.N., and he will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and severity of his current diagnoses.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the merits of the claims.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for clarification of his earned income from his lawn care business between 2009 and 2014.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right shoulder surgery disability, finding that the Veteran's additional disability was not caused by VA care.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, cervical radiculopathy, and right shoulder disabilities. The TDIU claim is remanded as it impacts the overall combined rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence being submitted after the appeal was transferred to the Board and a waiver of review by the RO was sought. The Veteran's right shoulder disability claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded due to pre-decisional errors in previous decisions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was reduced from 30% to 20%, effective August 28, 2019. The appeal for restoration of the 30% rating is granted. The claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has identified errors in the duty to assist and remands the claims for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including effective dates and ratings for shoulder and ankle conditions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left shoulder disability, including posttraumatic degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and thus granting the benefit of the doubt to the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for memory loss as the Veteran's memory impairment is a symptom of his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The increased disability ratings and TDIU issues are remanded due to incomplete VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder strain and right foot plantar fasciitis have been granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis is set at December 23, 2011.,A disability rating of 10 percent has been assigned for bilateral foot plantar fasciitis since May 26, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as service-connected. The issues of headaches, right arm/shoulder condition, right foot condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder NOS) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of her left shoulder disability and thoracolumbar spine disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 20 percent for either condition at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for gallbladder disorder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and left shoulder disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.,TDIU is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and readjudication due to procedural issues, including obtaining medical opinions regarding service connection claims.