Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service onset of symptoms and continued presence of these conditions since separation from active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, neck disability, left arm disability, and left shoulder disability due to insufficient evidence in the record. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's right shoulder labral repair and left knee disability resulting in limitation of flexion are both granted with specific ratings. The rating for the left knee instability is also granted, but only up to September 20, 2016.

The Veteran's neck disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating.,The Veteran's right shoulder strain was initially rated at 30 percent, but a higher 40 percent rating was granted effective January 14, 2020. The Board denied any further increase in this rating period.,Allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board denied an increased rating.,L5 spondylolysis with subtle grade 1 anterolisthesis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's hearing loss in the right ear does not meet VA criteria for a disability, thus denying service connection for that condition.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of a right shoulder condition, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disorder, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service. The claim for service connection for left shoulder disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the frequency and severity of flare-ups of the Veteran's right shoulder DJD, as well as clarification needed on the examiner's incomplete range of motion assessment.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that the evidence does not support a direct or secondary service connection. The claim was remanded multiple times due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider the Veteran's lay assertions regarding his right shoulder disability. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether the current right shoulder disability is related to service, especially the IED incident in November 2010, and if it is secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and low back disability. The issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right knee, and sleep apnea syndrome due to inadequate development in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, and back disabilities due to a lack of notification regarding scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA right shoulder examination to determine if any identified recurrent right shoulder disability had its onset during active service or is related to any incident of service, including the documented January 2012 SLAP tear.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including body pain, bilateral shoulder and arm pain, lower back pain, bilateral hip pain, bilateral leg pain, and eye problems have been denied. The VA has remanded the cases for further development.,Additionally, the Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, tinnitus, headaches, and a psychiatric disorder are also pending and need to be addressed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities due to incomplete development of records from FMC Butner and an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claims for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right shoulder pain are denied.

The Veteran's headaches are granted service connection. The right shoulder disability ratings for limitation of motion and DJD status post dislocation and SLAP tear remain unchanged, but the rating for painful scars is increased to 20 percent from March 3, 2017 to February 19, 2019.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided do not comply with the remand instructions and thus, the claims for service connection are being remanded again.