Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder condition, but the claims for left hip bursitis and right hip bursitis are remanded due to unclear nature of the disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for neck and right shoulder disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right humerus fracture, right elbow disability, right shoulder disability, and compensation for a right biceps tendon rupture/tear secondary to service-connected right humerus fracture due to insufficient examination findings and potential complications.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, and right foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions had their onset during active service or are otherwise related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to active duty. The right shoulder disability claim was denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and to obtain relevant treatment records, including those from non-VA providers. The issues of rating cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and right elbow disability are being remanded due to the possibility of material worsening since the last VA examination in February 2018.

The Veteran's left shoulder muscle damage and degenerative joint disease were improperly reduced, resulting in a restoration of the original ratings. The Veteran is granted a 10% rating for his left shoulder muscle damage from April 1, 2018, and denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his DJD.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his left and right knee conditions, as well as his right shoulder condition, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for persistent depressive disorder has been dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining issues of service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder degenerative arthritis, cervical spine condition, and ankle, knee, foot, thigh, and back conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left inguinal abdominal scars is denied as the current 30 percent rating adequately compensates his disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the medical opinion provided by a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disorders. Additional development is needed, including obtaining more recent medical records and providing another VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder, knee, foot, hearing loss, and low back disabilities have been reopened. Bilateral knee and foot disabilities are granted, while the denial of bilateral shoulder disability remains unchanged.,Bilateral hearing loss and OSA claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for a left shoulder disability and a left hand disability due to incomplete medical opinions provided by VA examiners. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder conditions, finding the evidence against a causal relationship to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for Graves' Disease was denied. The service connection claims for left shoulder disability and right ear hearing loss were also denied, with the latter being severed due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral ear disability as she withdrew her appeals prior to a decision being made. The claims of service connection for multiple sclerosis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), left knee disability, and left shoulder disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain was granted a 20% rating for the period prior to February 7, 2021. For the period from February 7, 2021 onward, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including increased ratings for back and PTSD, as well as claims for sleep apnea, bilateral ankle, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The VA will conduct additional examinations and gather medical records to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's flexion contracture of the left fifth digit PIP has been granted an initial compensable rating.,Service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae is granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder) is denied.,Service connection for left shoulder strain is dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal on this issue.,Service connection for spinal fusion, left knee strain, status post arthroscopy, hearing loss, right side and hypertension are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, right foot condition, and increased evaluation for tinnitus were dismissed. The remaining issues of service connection for various knee disabilities, shoulder conditions, and hearing loss are remanded.