Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as right and left arm disabilities, all of which are deemed to be directly related to in-service motor vehicle accidents.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee and shoulder strains, left foot plantar fasciitis, left and right ankle disabilities, and a claim for TDIU. The claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records, conducting new examinations, and issuing notice letters regarding the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a disability under VA compensation standards.,For his right shoulder strain, right elbow condition, frostbite on feet, and nasal and ear conditions, the Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, finding that it had its onset in service and is continuous since separation. The issue of a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence following surgery remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient nexus opinions provided by VA examiners. The Veteran's left shoulder, fibromyalgia condition, right and left ankle disorders are all being reviewed further.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Right Shoulder Strain have been granted. The TBI claim is based on direct evidence linking the current condition to service, while the Right Shoulder Strain claim is also supported by direct evidence of an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, and right achilles tendon disability due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further development of medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board found that the left shoulder disorder claim is denied, while PTSD claims are granted with specific rating periods.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, neck condition, right shoulder condition, and carpal tunnel in the right hand, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative joint disease is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that there was continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were partially granted, with some issues being reopened and others not. The appeal is dismissed as to the claim of retinopathy due to its full grant. Claims for skin disability, arthritis, high blood pressure, foot injury residuals, and respiratory disorder are all partially granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left shoulder strain and neurological impairment of the bilateral lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The Board also denied service connection for bilateral foot disabilities as they were not shown to be related to or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence linking the disorders to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to April 9, 2014. From April 9, 2014, the Veteran is in receipt of a combined disability rating of 100 percent, which moots any TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claim for a higher rating for left shoulder disability due to inadequate examination and opinion. A new VA examination is needed to reassess the severity of the Veteran's condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder condition, including a chronic left rotator cuff tear. The evidence showed that the Veteran had a pre-existing shoulder abnormality at service entrance and did not have any significant symptoms or findings related to his shoulder during service. His current diagnosis of a torn rotator cuff was found to be unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the issues on appeal, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private medical records. The Veteran's musculoskeletal conditions (knees and shoulders) and migraine headaches are also remanded for further examination and opinion.