Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's combined effects of his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence linking his testicular adenomatoid tumor and fractures of the left 5th metatarsal, as well as other conditions. The rating for residuals of fracture of the left 5th metatarsal remains at noncompensable prior to July 1, 2021.

The Board dismissed the issues of service connection for tinnitus, right and left ear hearing loss, headaches, a right eye disorder, a right knee disorder, and a right shoulder disorder. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder disability effective April 22, 2021. The previous rating of 20 percent is maintained prior to that date.

The Veteran is granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, with the condition being his right shoulder instability and rotator cuff tendinopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder and right wrist disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 9, 2020. The Board found that the evidence was in approximate balance with respect to his ability to obtain and maintain such employment prior to this date.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease, bilateral hearing loss, otitis media, a left ankle disability, sinusitis, and costochondritis as there are no longer justiciable issues due to the grants of service connection in prior rating decisions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration due to his service-connected low back and right shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder disability was denied. The Board found the evidence did not show recurrent dislocation, fibrous union, nonunion, or loss of head of the humerus warranting a higher rating under DC 5202. Service connection for OSA is remanded due to incomplete STR records and lack of discussion in the April 2022 VA medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a right hand disability and a right shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active service or any other condition.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected and non-service-connected disabilities, including headaches, skin disability other than pseudofolliculitis barbae, right shoulder disability, sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the knees, and left ligament sprain. The Board has determined that these issues require further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability as secondary to a right shoulder disability, and bilateral shoulder scars due to deficiencies in the March 2022 VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination. The right shoulder disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and headaches are all under review.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms from May 26, 2010 to October 23, 2017 resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD during this period.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for right shoulder and right knee conditions due to insufficient medical evidence. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right eye condition, right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his periods of active duty, inactive duty training (IDT), and active duty for training (ADT). The VA will need to verify these dates and obtain any relevant military records.

The Veteran's right shoulder and right knee disabilities are granted service connection.,Service connection for the Veteran's asthma is also granted, but only as a result of his current diagnosis rather than due to an in-service event.