Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete compliance with previous instructions and requests for verification of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's CAD and hypertension are found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.,PTSD is not associated with the claimed conditions of tinnitus, migraine headaches, sleep disorder, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, diverticulitis, bilateral eye disability, low back disability, or bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, characterized as a right shoulder strain, inflammation of the rotator cuff, and bursitis. The decision finds that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to her in-service activities.

A 30 percent rating for asthma is granted, separate from a rating for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The appeals seeking reopening of a prior final denial of service connection for memory loss; service connection for fatigue, bilateral hearing loss, and hernia; increased ratings greater than 10 percent each for right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome and residuals of right fifth metatarsal fracture; and an earlier effective date than May 23, 2018, for the grants of service connection for left and right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome, lumbosacral strain, hypertension, tension headaches, right and left shoulder strain with glenohumeral joint instability, and asthma are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for an effective date earlier than November 29, 2017 and increased ratings for right shoulder disabilities and left index finger partial amputation due to new evidence and need for further examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability is rated as 40 percent disabling from January 5, 2017 to November 17, 2020 and 30 percent thereafter. The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for the right shoulder and 30 percent for the left shoulder.,The Veteran's claim for increased ratings was denied for periods beyond January 5, 2017.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for various disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if VA followed proper procedures in scheduling his examinations, which could affect the assigned effective dates.

The Board has determined that the development conducted does not adequately comply with the October 2022 Board remand and thus, the cases are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of a brain disorder, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and low back disability. The weight of the evidence does not show any current disabilities related to the in-service boat accident.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and right shoulder osteoarthritis, as well as service connection for neck disability. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions have been remanded due to procedural issues and the need for a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has decided to remand the claims for right ankle, knee, and shoulder disabilities due to new evidence being added to the file. The Veteran will need to have his case reviewed by the RO before a decision is made.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for its denial, specifically failing to address relevant favorable evidence and relying on an inadequate VA examination in its denial. The appeal is now back with the Board for further adjudication.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including his low back condition, neck condition, and shoulder condition. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, low back, and left knee conditions due to lack of evidence linking these disabilities to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the record, including missing service treatment records. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again with additional medical opinions based on all available information.

The Veteran's left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis is now granted as service-connected.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and PTSD) has been reopened but not yet decided.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right knee disabilities due to incomplete development, including scheduling of a VA examination. The Veteran was not provided with proper notice regarding the scheduled examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and low back disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service complaints of shoulder pain and back pain, which have continued since service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of 10 percent for service-connected residuals of a right shoulder injury is granted. The case is remanded to issue a statement of the case on this issue.