Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran will need to provide updated treatment records and undergo new examinations for her atopic dermatitis, left shoulder strain, and migraine headaches.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand degenerative arthritis, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left wrist degenerative arthritis, and left index finger condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied in July 2004, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim. The effective date of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy is set at July 21, 2011.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for psoriasis, GERD, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and right knee disability are denied. The effective date of service connection for presbyopia with hypermetropia, astigmatism, and pinguecula is set at July 21, 2011.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral shoulder condition and left foot condition due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 17, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, including right shoulder glenohumeral degenerative arthritis, left shoulder glenohumbral degenerative arthritis, bilateral hand osteoarthritis, and bilateral knee, wrist, back, elbow, and hip disabilities manifested by pain are granted. The claim for secondary service connection for hypertension is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability but remanded the issue of secondary service connection for a neck condition due to a lower back disability. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion on whether the Veteran's cervical spine/neck condition was caused by her service-connected lower back condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disorder, cervical spine condition, headaches, and bilateral hip condition. The claims are being remanded due to a lack of compliance with previous remand directives regarding scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder and right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the current ratings of 20 percent for the left shoulder and 10 percent for the right knee are appropriate based on the evidence provided.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder tendonitis is dismissed.,Service connection for a left wrist disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions obtained on remand are inadequate and did not comply with the October 2022 Board remand directives. The claims for service connection must be remanded again due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment as of March 25, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU rating effective from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed knee, wrist, and shoulder disabilities did not begin during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury. The evidence does not support his assertions of combat exposure or injuries sustained while deployed.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as his GERD, have been rated at 10 percent since June 17, 2014. The Board has determined that the criteria for higher ratings are not met.,The Veteran’s bilateral shoulder disabilities were found to be limited to flexion and abduction of the shoulders at 60 degrees with repeated use over time and during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple joint disabilities, including left shoulder, right elbow, right wrist, cervical spine, low back, and left ankle disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and complete a TERA Memorandum. Additional VA clinical records are also needed. A Gulf War examination should be conducted, and the Veteran should undergo multiple VA examinations for each of his claimed conditions to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that it began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Service connection for a disorder claimed as degenerative arthritis was denied because the evidence did not support a finding that it began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Veteran's arthritis diagnoses were found to be unrelated to his military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and low back pain were also denied as the evidence did not support a finding that they began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and right shoulder disabilities due to incomplete compliance with previous directives, need for additional medical opinions, and potential inextricably intertwined claim of migraines.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from engaging in physical or sedentary employment as of April 17, 2009. The Board granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically generalized anxiety disorder, is granted. The claims for fatigue and skin condition are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions considering toxic exposure risk activities.