Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for GERD, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Left Shoulder Disability, and Low Back Disability. The claims for these conditions are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature of his disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's pulmonary emboli, hypertension, stroke residuals, bilateral upper and lower extremity neurologic symptomatology, unspecified neurodegenerative disease, and right shoulder disorder are being remanded for further review due to potential exposure under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches, right shoulder issues, cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and left knee chondromalacia, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since February 21, 2006. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from that date.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus has been rated as 10 percent disabling since August 20, 2018. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right shoulder disorders and left and right hip disorders due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the procedural course of the Veteran's appeal is at issue and remands the case for further action, including issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his right shoulder disability, bilateral foot condition, sleep apnea, anxiety disorder, and left shoulder condition. The issues of rating higher than 20 percent for the right shoulder disability, service connection for a bilateral foot disability, service connection for sleep apnea, service connection for anxiety disorder as a separate condition from PTSD, and service connection for a left shoulder condition are all remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are granted as they are at least as likely as not related to his military service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed knee, ankle, shoulder, and elbow disorders, as well as his cervical spine disorder. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including for right upper jaw disability, low back disability, left shoulder disability, arthritis, diabetes mellitus (due to herbicide exposure), and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The AOJ is instructed to review the additional evidence provided since the last SSOC.

The Board has determined that VA examinations are necessary to assess the current nature, onset and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The Veteran failed to appear for scheduled VA examinations and good cause has been shown.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of complete service treatment records and for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's claims are related to his military duties involving lifting and handling heavy equipment.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from May 10, 2006 to January 21, 2019 and special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) effective September 9, 2008 due to his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right ankle conditions have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral foot, lower back, and right knee conditions are remanded.

For the appeal period prior to September 23, 2015, the Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 10 percent due to limited motion. For the appeal period from September 23, 2015, a higher rating of 20 percent is denied.,The evidence does not support ratings in excess of 10 and 20 percent for the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. However, the case is remanded as further medical examination is needed to determine if the current right shoulder disability is related to military service or directly caused by or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left shoulder disability and related paresthesias are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The case must be further developed with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the grant of service connection for tension headaches is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for major depressive disorder is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bursitis is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tension headaches is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical strain is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left rotator cuff impingement syndrome is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the grant of a 20 percent rating for left rotator cuff impingement syndrome is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis with strain of the lumbar spine is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2017, for the assignment of a separate compensable rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions, including shoulder disorders, spine disorders, peripheral neuropathies, and psychiatric disorders, due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The decision is based on the Veteran's death.