Shoulder decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left shoulder scar.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence being submitted that was not previously considered by the RO. The claims include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, constipation, lumbar disc disease, left shoulder torn rotator cuff, right shoulder rotator cuff, and chronic bronchitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 4, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to outstanding SSA records that may contain relevant evidence. The earlier effective date claim is inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an upper back disability and remanded other claims due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's VA Form 9 was timely filed, allowing for consideration of his claims regarding service connection and initial evaluations for various conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, claimed as anxiety and depression, and for insomnia has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right foot disability has been remanded due to the submission of new evidence since the March 2010 rating decision.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, low back disability, and gastritis are granted service connection. The Veteran is also remanded for a new VA examination to determine the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and for clarification on his work history in relation to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder impingement syndrome, chronic left and right wrist sprains, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and lumbosacral strain due to inadequate examinations in November 2016. The Veteran is required to undergo updated VA examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed. The claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been reopened, as well as the claims for right foot condition and knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee condition, right shoulder tear, and face skin rash due to insufficient evidence in some cases. Additional examinations are needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthropathy of the hands (claimed as rheumatoid arthritis) is granted.,Effective May 1, 2012, the Veteran's claims for scars on his right upper and lower extremities and left lower extremity are granted.,Effective May 1, 2012, the Veteran's claim for service connection for right foot degenerative joint disease is granted.,Effective May 1, 2012, the Veteran's claim for service connection for left foot degenerative joint disease is granted.,Effective May 1, 2012, the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease (status post rotator cuff and impingement surgery) is granted.,Effective May 1, 2012, the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder degenerative joint disease (status post rotator cuff and impingement surgery) is granted.,The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of right carpal tunnel syndrome with median and lower radicular group involvement are remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability can be adjudicated. The case is being remanded to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination and obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic myofascial pain in the right and left shoulders have been remanded due to failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. A new examination is required by a VA orthopedist.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition was previously denied in January 2010. New evidence received since then does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to reopen the claim, and thus the petition to reopen is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic right shoulder disability, claimed as right shoulder pain; dry eye syndrome; cataracts; and dental disability (teeth grinding) have been denied. The claim for service connection for lumbosacral spine disability has been reopened but not granted. The claim for service connection for hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disorder, right rib disorder, and right kidney disorder as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. A separate 20% rating is also granted for instability of the left knee.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the temporary total evaluation due to his right shoulder surgery in 2014 is denied. The Board found that he did not meet the one-year filing requirement for a temporary total evaluation based on the November 2010 surgery.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has been denied. The Board also denied the Veteran's TDIU prior to April 7, 2017 and granted her TDIU from that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right shoulder strain and entitlement to a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) due to inadequate examination records. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence, including completing VA Form 21-8940 and submitting employment information if requested.