Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration of service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims are not currently granted as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right eye disability, left shoulder and elbow disabilities, knee disabilities, and bilateral foot disabilities. The remand requests additional medical opinions to address whether these conditions are related to active service or secondary to his service-connected spinal stenosis.

The Board denied service connection for myeloma, asthma, a right shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective January 1, 2016 based on the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to that date remains pending and requires additional information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder has been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an updated VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an unspecified anxiety disorder is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral shin splints, service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition, and service connection for a bilateral hip condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service and granted service connection for this condition. The remaining issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the cases of right shoulder disorder, acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD), and respiratory condition are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, including rheumatoid arthritis and as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development and readjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder strain, rotator cuff tear, arthritis, and bursitis, finding that the current diagnoses are related to an in-service weightlifting injury.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and a bilateral wrist disability, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection. The appeals for increased ratings of left shoulder strain with rotator cuff tendonitis and TMJ are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for schedular or extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's initial rating for a residual scar of the right shoulder was granted at 10 percent, effective October 20, 2021. The Veteran's right (dominant) shoulder impingement status post Mumford repair has been rated as 40 percent disabling since October 30, 2005, to February 12, 2015; and from October 20, 2021, the rating was increased to 70 percent for generalized anxiety and panic disorder. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a TDIU is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability and left shoulder condition due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded six service connection claims due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's reported symptoms will be evaluated in conjunction with his service records.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and an initial compensable rating for a left ankle scar. The Veteran's bilateral flat feet were granted a 50% rating effective May 7, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic right shoulder degenerative arthritis in service or within one year after separation. The Board also found that the current diagnosis is not related to an in-service injury and that continuity of symptomatology has not been established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for further development and adjudication, including obtaining a medical nexus opinion regarding the etiology of his obstructive sleep apnea and providing him with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiologies of his claimed disabilities of the elbows and right shoulder.