Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but denied service connection for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, skin rash, and hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and panic/anxiety disorder), a low back disability, a left knee disability, a left shoulder/arm disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee, shoulder, foot, and shin splints disorders due to missing service treatment records. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service injuries and treatments will be considered by VA medical experts.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder and cervical spine disabilities due to unclear etiology and pathophysiology of the conditions. Additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board dismissed all the claims due to the appellant's death during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and lack of examination in some cases. The claims are now pending for further review.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a right shoulder disability, hemorrhoids, IBS, and an unspecified chest and rib condition due to insufficient examination opinions that did not consider the Veteran's subjective reports.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left hip disability has been reopened, and the rating reductions from 20 percent to 10 percent effective August 1, 2017 for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were found improper. The 20 percent ratings are restored.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, subject to further development on remand issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding his diagnosed musculoskeletal conditions and their relation to service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, CAD, GERD, bilateral CTS, knee osteoarthritis, shoulder strain, lumbar spine disability, OSA, and skin disorder.,No new evidence or changes in the Veteran's conditions were presented to support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with osteoarthritis, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS and cervical spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS as these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service motorcycle accident.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his left shoulder disability and noted other issues needing further review.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.,Secondary service connection for left wrist and right wrist disabilities will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right shoulder disability resulting from a July 2015 angioplasty with stent placement, finding no additional disability due to the procedure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder, left shoulder, and sinusitis disabilities due to incomplete VA examinations and lack of private treatment records. The AOJ must obtain additional evidence and schedule the Veteran for new VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided are inadequate and requires new opinions to determine if the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that more development is needed for the Veteran's service connection claims, including VA examinations and consideration of additional evidence. The claims are being remanded to allow for this.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of unspecified anxiety disorder with insomnia is denied. The case is remanded for further examinations related to left shoulder numbness and tingling, as well as increased ratings for unspecified anxiety disorder with insomnia and right temporomandibular joint disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various foot, knee, and shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to insufficient examination reports. The examiner failed to provide a clear opinion regarding the etiology of his conditions and did not address all relevant issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PFB, right knee PFS, and left shoulder acromioclavicular osteoarthritis have been granted. The conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities.