Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent cervical spine, right shoulder, and right hip disabilities due to incomplete verification of her National Guard duty records.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions obtained following the October 2022 decision were inadequate and requires further remand to obtain adequate retrospective findings for limitation of motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and any in-service event or injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder strain and OSA have been reopened. The Board has ordered remand for further development to address the issues of service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for right axillary neuropathy due to the lack of evidence of a current disability. The remaining claims, including left axillary neuropathy and a left shoulder condition, are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back disability, and various extremity disabilities are not granted. The cases have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions were aggravated by his obesity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, DJD of the shoulders and knees, DDD of the lumbar spine, and bilateral radiculopathy, have rendered her incapable of providing basic care for herself. The Board has determined that she requires regular aid and attendance due to her physical and mental incapacities.

The Veteran's heart disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right shoulder disability, back disability, and allergy disability are not service-connected. However, hypertension is granted as a result of presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The cases are pending further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right shoulder disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability. The case is being returned for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, with the effective date being December 29, 2017. The decision also remanded several other issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to his right foot, left foot, bilateral toe, and right shoulder conditions are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for a headache condition is also being remanded as no VA examiner has provided an opinion on the nature and etiology of such condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, back condition, and abdominal scars have been granted service connection. The Veteran is assigned a disability rating of 100% for his abdominal scars.

The Veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities are currently rated at 10% each, but the Board denied any higher ratings due to lack of evidence showing more severe limitations.,For his right shoulder disability, the Veteran was initially granted a 20% rating from December 1, 2014 to August 14, 2023 and then a 40% rating thereafter. The Board denied any higher ratings due to lack of evidence showing more severe limitations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected right shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tear.

The Veteran's initial claim for a 10 percent rating for tension headaches has been granted. The Board has also remanded several other issues related to service connection and disability ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, but has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and low back disability. The claims for radiculopathy of the lower extremities are also being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip osteoarthritis as secondary to his service-connected right foot hallux valgus and for left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, finding that there is no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a disability rating of 50 percent, but no higher. The left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. Multiple service connection claims are remanded.