Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during active service and thus service connection is granted.,Service connection for hypertension cannot be established as the evidence does not support a finding that it began or was aggravated by active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Board has determined that remand is necessary to obtain a retrospective medical opinion on the severity and functional impact of flare-ups of the Veteran's right shoulder condition prior to July 29, 2020.

The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection for headaches has been granted. The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee and left shoulder conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 31, 2016. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability. The matter is now returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to an increased rating for CRPS of the left lower extremity and a claim for service connection for various disorders. The remand includes obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left shoulder separation with bursitis and spondylolisthesis of the cervical spine were denied as there was no evidence showing that his range of motion was limited to less than 80 degrees or a combined range of motion less than 170 degrees, respectively.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder arthritis and thoracolumbar spine arthritis on a direct basis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during and have continued since service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his left shoulder arthroplasty is denied as the evidence does not show that he has chronic residuals consisting of severe, painful motion or weakness in this affected extremity.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, sleep apnea, and sinusitis due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Veteran's migraine disability, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and left shoulder disability are all rated at 50 percent effective from December 13, 2022. The Veteran's PTSD claim was granted in a separate decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right shoulder, left shoulder, and back disabilities are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations. Additionally, TDIU is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings for his shoulder, spine, elbow, knee, and tension headaches disabilities.

The claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further evaluation by a VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal of the rating assigned for genital herpes comes before the Board on appeal from an August 2015 rating decision that adjudicated a June 2015 increased rating claim. The effective date for the 60 percent rating is granted as of June 16, 2015.,The Veteran's service connection claims for fatigue and involuntary leg and arm movements during sleep are remanded due to inadequate opinions provided by VA.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder disability has been reopened, and the Board finds new and material evidence to support reopening. The Veteran's tinea pedis rating is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to November 2016 or in excess of 30 percent prior to February 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran is required to provide two independent medical opinions supporting his diagnoses and their relationship to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's post-operative left rotator cuff tear, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected right shoulder acromioclavicular atrophy.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, right shoulder AC joint arthrosis and tendinitis, and degenerative arthritis of the spine. The Veteran's hearing loss is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's left arm/hand numbness is granted service connection. The Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty is granted a rating of 60 percent during specific periods. The Veteran's initial rating for his left shoulder degenerative joint disease is denied.