Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and a neck condition due to insufficient medical opinions addressing potential theories of entitlement, including those related to Reserve service.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for cervical spine disability was dismissed. His claims for service connection for left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities were also dismissed.,Service connection for tension headaches, secondary to service connected disabilities (left ankle sprain residuals, tinnitus, major depressive disorder), is granted.

The Board denied the appellant's request to extend her temporary total disability rating for convalescence following an August 2017 right shoulder surgery, finding that there were no severe postoperative residuals related to the surgery and that she had not returned to normal activities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left upper extremity radial nerve disability has been granted with an effective date of January 4, 2012.,A 40 percent rating is assigned for the left upper extremity radial nerve disability from December 23, 2019.

The Board has denied service connection for right foot, left foot, and wrist conditions. The Veteran's bilateral hip and shoulder conditions have been granted.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for left and right shoulder bursitis due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's lay statements will be considered, along with his in-service complaints.

The Board has reopened the claims for PTSD, hypertension, erectile dysfunction under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and service connection for other stressor-related disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, left hip arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, thyroid disorder, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, and gynecomastia. The claims are currently pending further development.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was granted a 40% rating from June 3, 2014, to March 16, 2016.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability was granted a 30% rating from June 3, 2014, to October 19, 2016.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo VA examinations and obtain additional records in order to properly adjudicate his claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, right shoulder disorder, and bilateral knee disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the issues on appeal, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations for his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left arm/shoulder conditions, and ankle conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability and a low back disability due to inadequate compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was not rated higher than 20 percent prior to August 8, 2005, and not higher than 30 percent from that date.,The Veteran's right knee tendonitis with arthritis did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to insufficient evidence or incomplete examinations. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for his left knee scars, insomnia, or instability of the left knee. Service connection for chronic left shoulder pain and chronic left ankle pain remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed disability.,Service connection for neck disability is denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis and no chronic residuals from the April 2015 motor vehicle accident. The current symptoms are not considered disabling enough to warrant service connection.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left shoulder disability is denied as there is no evidence of functional impairment affecting earning capacity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right shoulder and knee conditions, depressive disorder, and lumbosacral strain, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 31, 2015. The Board denied the temporary total evaluation for the right shoulder disability and granted TDIU based on the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder condition and left knee strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling new VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including blurred vision, psychiatric disability, neck condition, left shoulder disability, nerve damage of the left upper extremity, dizziness, and headaches, due to lack of causation by VA care.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including an increased rating for plantar fasciitis and service connection for psychological and shoulder disabilities. The apportionment of benefits to the Veteran's child is also remanded.