Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee, right knee, left hip, right hip, left shoulder, and low back disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including headaches, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, right elbow and left elbow disabilities, and back disability. The issues are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various orthopedic conditions due to outstanding private and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right knee disability, left shoulder disability, left forearm disability, headache disorder, PFB, sinusitis and a disability manifested by indigestion have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within one year following discharge that could be presumed to have resulted from service.,The Veteran's complaints during service were noted but resolved with treatment. No current disabilities related to these issues were found, and the VA examiner opined that any current symptoms are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left shoulder, cervical spine, left knee, and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate opinions from a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including those related to the Veteran's right thumb disability, acquired psychiatric disability, left and right shoulder disabilities, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, neck disability, allergic rhinitis, and headache disability.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.,Service connection is also denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder, likely PTSD, as the Veteran's statements regarding onset are inconsistent with medical records.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral hand disorder, and the case is remanded for further examination to determine if current knee or shoulder disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for back and right shoulder disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent or 20 percent, respectively.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that the current condition is not related to service or a service-connected condition. The claim was remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, and headache disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,None of the medical opinions provided a causal link between the Veteran's current disabilities and his in-service motorcycle accident.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a right shoulder disability due to insufficient examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation at any time during the appeal period.,For his service-connected conditions, including bilateral pes planus, left ankle disability, low back disability, and right shoulder disability, the Board has remanded these issues to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and additional development is needed, including obtaining in-service treatment records from Fort Jackson base hospital. The issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, bilateral foot conditions (excluding skin disability), and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral lower extremity, upper extremity, and shoulder disabilities due to a lack of probative value in his lay statements regarding these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder conditions, hypertension, diverticulitis, residuals of open sigmoid colectomy, and ventral hernia have all been granted service connection. The Veteran is also receiving a 20% rating for his left ankle reconstruction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various arm, shoulder, hip, and knee disorders have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Board has also found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation for some of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional medical opinions and records to address service connection claims, rating determinations, and other issues. The Board will consider the evidence and make a decision on these matters.

The Board has ordered remand to determine the level of functional impairment caused by each service-connected disability, including those related to diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran's claim for SMC based on a single service-connected disability rated as total is being considered.