Shoulder decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder disability, left ankle disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims were reopened due to new evidence provided since the July 2013 rating decision.

The Veteran's back disability is granted a 40 percent rating from August 25, 2011 to December 3, 2013. A higher rating for the right shoulder disability is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder disorder, diagnosed as shoulder impingement. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury and his current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disability, including his in-service injury and subsequent symptoms. Additional development is needed, such as obtaining service treatment records and personnel records, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient rationale in the previous opinions and lack of an examination addressing all issues.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for a seizure disorder and left shoulder disability, but denies an earlier effective date for radiculopathy.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as it relates to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain etiology opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed bilateral upper extremity musculoskeletal disabilities, including shoulder impingement, elbow epicondylitis and arthritis, right elbow medial tendinopathy, hand distal degenerative joint changes, and elbow arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right knee disability, left knee disability, and bilateral shoulder disability have been denied. The claim for PTSD was reopened due to new evidence received since the previous denial in 2001.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various genitourinary and musculoskeletal disabilities, including prostate cancer, kidney disability, bladder disability, low back disability, right hip disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and right knee disability. The remand requires obtaining additional medical opinions to address the etiology of these conditions, particularly regarding exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and left shoulder disability, but denied the claim for dental treatment purposes. The case is remanded to obtain additional records and provide an examination for the left shoulder disability.

The claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed due to conflicting medical opinions and missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's right C5-6 radiculopathy, claimed as a 'right arm' disorder, is granted service connection and is proximately due to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine. The other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, and cervical spine arthritis due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including obesity resulting from his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was granted a 20 percent rating prior to May 14, 2020. However, the claim for an increased rating since September 1, 2020 is denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, was granted service connection because it had its onset in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.,The Board is requesting further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, lumbar spine disability, right foot/ankle disability, obstructive sleep apnea, right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a shoulder disability, secondary to service-connected bilateral varicose veins disabilities due to concerns about the adequacy of the previous VA examiner's opinion. A new medical opinion is needed that takes into account all relevant evidence, including recent medical records provided by the Veteran.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy should be remanded due to a lack of in-person examinations. The VA is instructed to attempt to obtain these examinations from the correctional facility where the Veteran is incarcerated.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset during or related to service.