Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a left shoulder disorder and chronic respiratory disorder (asthma) due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for left and right shoulder dislocations has been denied. The maximum schedular rating of 20 percent is already assigned, and there is no evidence to support a higher rating based on the current medical findings.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his right knee, right shin, and right shoulder disabilities due to incomplete development and insufficient examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder disability, left shoulder arthritis with bone spurs, right knee arthritis with bone spurs as secondary to a previous injury, and right elbow arthritis with bone spurs as secondary to residuals of a fracture. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis with shoulder strain is granted as service-connected, and the initial disability rating for PTSD has been increased to 100 percent.,The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused total occupational and social impairment throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum available under current rating criteria. The appeal for a higher initial rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus. The claims for glaucoma, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), right shoulder disability, and left femur disability are remanded due to the need for further examination and development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical disc disease, degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity due to inadequate VA examinations. The issues are inextricably intertwined as the rating assigned for one condition may affect another.

The Board has granted effective dates of October 28, 2015 for the grant of a 20 percent rating for low back disability and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (sciatica). The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for left shoulder disability is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is still necessary prior to the adjudication of the issues of appeal, including obtaining VA examinations for the Veteran's musculoskeletal disabilities and information regarding his employment status.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted. The claims for service connection for back, psychiatric disorders (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), TBI residuals, sleep apnea secondary to TBI, and seizure disorder secondary to TBI or acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected right knee and right shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it requires further evidence regarding the Veteran's employment history.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder and elbow conditions, finding no evidence of a nexus to active service.,Service connection was also denied for residuals of frostbite of the feet (polyneuropathy), with the Board concluding that there is no direct link between the condition and active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for left and right shoulder disabilities, left and right wrist disabilities, blurred vision, and chronic fatigue syndrome are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude gainful employment prior to December 15, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unavailability of his STRs and need for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. Lang and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his left shoulder disorders.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, back disability, neck disability, and right shoulder tendinopathy with strain are all found to be related to service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral hip degenerative joint disease, right knee disability, left knee chondromalacia with meniscal tear and Baker's cyst, bilateral ankle disabilities, right shoulder osteoarthritis, left shoulder tendinopathy, right elbow disability, and left elbow lateral epicondylitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as cervical spine disability, all of which are claimed to be related to a motor vehicle accident in 1973. The appeals have been remanded due to inadequate examination reports that did not address each claim individually.